Starting now, Waste NOT will operate as a United Food Bank affiliate — though it will maintain its 501(c)(3) charitable status.
The United Food Bank is another 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, this one offering hunger relief to the east Valley as well as eastern Arizona. Similar to Waste NOT, it acquires, stores, and distributes food and related commodities to more than 220 partner agencies, in turn serving more than 228,000 people in need. To put into perspective, United Food Bank distributed nearly 24 million pounds of food, or about 19.5 million meals, in 2018.
Now combine that with Waste NOT’s 2018 stats. Waste NOT delivered 3.5 million pounds of prepared food to 87 nonprofits, diverting 1,750 tons of food from local landfills. This was a record-breaking year for the agency and equated to more than $4 million of economic value.
That means 2019 is looking pretty good. As of June, Waste NOT had recovered more than 562,000 pounds of fresh food and delivered it to local agencies.
Together, United Food Bank and Waste NOT annually save 8 million pounds of edible, perishable food from grocery stores, caterers, and other food purveyors that would otherwise be discarded. Combining resources, leadership, infrastructure, and operating efficiencies will improve and expand the agencies’ efforts to combat local hunger and food waste.

Kate Thoene, executive director at Waste NOT, says she's thrilled to be working with United Food Bank.
Waste NOT
Our old friend Kate Thoene, executive director at Waste NOT, responded in kind: “I’m thrilled to be working with United Food Bank, who prioritizes collaboration and sees this expanded partnership and prepared food rescue as an avenue to move the needle on hunger relief in Arizona.”
And if this news has you all geared up to help fight hunger and food waste, the two agencies are working to make this the summer of a million meals. Participants may donate until September 2 and help United Food Bank and Waste NOT reach their summer 2019 goal.