Peninsula Food Runners

Our Mission

Peninsula Food Runners is a volunteer organization dedicated to alleviating hunger and reducing food waste in the San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.Peninsula Food Runners provides a free service to pick up excess perishable and prepared food from donors such as restaurants, caterers, bakeries, hospitals, event planners, corporate cafeterias, and hotels. Our volunteers pick up food from these businesses and deliver it directly to shelters and neighborhood programs and 100% affordable housing that feed the hungry and the provide a relief to food insecurities.Powered by a web application, donors submit an online request for a food pickup. The application makes an automated match between a recipient and donor within seconds (The match is based on a set of criteria that include location, need, food type and hours of operation). Once the match is made by the application, an auto-generated email message and text message is sent to our pool of volunteer runners. The first available runner gets assigned and completes the food run. From the time the donor submits an online request for a food pickup, the recipient and volunteer are assigned within a few minutes. The actual food run is usually completed within an hour. A smartphone app will also be available soon.Time line : 2011 Attained 501 C-3 - letter of Determination2012 Customized Web Application2013 Up and Running - 40 Volunteers rolled out in San Mateo County2014 15,000 Lbs/ week with 150 Volunteers began supporting Santa Clara County2015 35,000 Lbs/week with 280 Volunteers ( web application servicing 3rd county in Montgomery County, Maryland)70% of food donated from Corporations30% of Farmer's markets vendors, wholesale produces, prepackaged and prepared produce, food retailers etc..