Facts About Hunger

Food Waste in America

The amount of food being wasted in the United States is staggering. The 18 “Fast Facts” you should know about the Community Harvest Perishable and Prepared Food Rescue Program:

  1. 40% of all food ready for harvest and produced in the United States never gets eaten
  2. Americans waste 96 Billion pounds of food each year
  3. American households waste an average of 25% of the food they prepare
  4. The annual value of lost and unused food in the United States is $165 Billion
  5. Food disposal alone costs the United States $1 Billion each year
  6. 62% of paper is recycled in the United States vs. only 2% of food waste is composted or otherwise recycled
  7. Food getting tossed in the United States accounts for ¼ of all freshwater use in the country
  8. Over 50 Million Americans are currently experiencing food insecurity
  9. 1 in 6 Americans go to bed hungry each night
  10. Over 17% of Stark County’s population is considered food insecure
  11. 1 in 4 children in Stark County currently reside in food insecure households
  12. Community Harvest was established in October 1989 and has been serving Stark County for 26 years
  13. Community Harvest was instrumental in passing the Ohio Good Samaritan Food Laws, which protect food donors and volunteers from liability
  14. Community Harvest collects excess perishable food from nearly 100 different grocery stores, restaurants, and food vendors in Stark County
  15. Community Harvest is the only Hunger Relief Program in NE Ohio to PICK-UP and DELIVER food to participating agencies at NO COST
  16. Community Harvest is executed entirely by volunteers and a paid staff of only one
  17. Community Harvest rescued and delivered $1.6 Million in food last year
  18. Community Harvest provides food for 32 Soup Kitchens, Hot Meal Sites, and Shelters in Stark County each month to help alleviate hunger

To learn how you can help, come to one of our events!