The FruitGuys Ramps Up Hunger Relief With Food Connect Group

Hunger and food insecurity affect every corner of our society, and they’re often closer to home than we realize. No one can thrive on an empty stomach, yet sadly 47 million people in the US are facing hunger right now. At The FruitGuys, we’re committed to addressing this challenge because we know how essential nutritious food is for fueling our bodies and minds. That’s why we’ve set an ambitious goal to donate 700,000 servings of food to hunger relief organizations in 2024.

The FruitGuys Tackles Hunger Relief

Our hunger relief efforts started in 1998 with our first donation to St. Anthony’s Dining Room in San Francisco. Now, they’re nationwide! When The FruitGuys team packs orders at our eleven regional hubs, we donate all of our excess and visually imperfect produce and snacks to more than thirty local hunger relief donation partners.

Leveling Up With Food Connect Group

In 2020, we began a fruitful partnership in Philadelphia with Food Connect Group, a nonprofit food rescue organization bridging the gaps in our food system to build healthier communities. Then, in 2023, we deepened our collaboration! Today, Food Connect supports the distribution of our donations to a network of hunger relief organizations in seven of our eleven regional hubs. They help power our giving in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. With their support, we can reach more people in need and minimize food waste at the same time.

700,000 Servings—We’re Almost There!

Teaming up with Food Connect Group boosted The FruitGuys’ mission to relieve hunger. Together, we’re passing excess food on to incredible community partners. They ensure it ends up in someone’s hands, not in the trash. Our 2024 goal is to donate 700,000 servings of food to neighbors in need, and thanks to our impact collaboration with Food Connect, we’re closing in on that number. 

Here’s a look at our weekly donation impact so far in 2024:

Donations That Make a Difference

“Our partnership with The FruitGuys has made a significant impact on reducing food waste and providing nutritious food to those in need,” Joyce Johnson, the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) and communications strategist at Food Connect Group, told The FruitGuys. “We are grateful for the continued support from our partners and community members. Together, we can bridge the gap and create a healthier, more sustainable future.”

The hunger relief organizations that Food Connect Group donates to feel that impact, too. Here’s a message from one of them:

“The fresh produce that Food Connect delivers to us weekly from The FruitGuys is an invaluable addition to our community. We are able to provide these items to all aspects of Booker T. Washington Community Service programming. Our after-school youth get a healthy fresh snack daily, in addition to supplementing our weekly market. This helps offset the cost so we are able to provide high-value items that we wouldn’t have been able to without the support of The FruitGuys. We truly appreciate the positive impact that this partnership has had on our ability to serve our community more effectively. Thank you for your continued support in helping us meet the needs of those we serve.”— Juanita Bruton, Senior Manager of Food Sovereignty, Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, San Francisco, California

The FruitGuys’ hunger relief efforts are only possible thanks to the offices, schools, and families that order fruit and snacks from us each week. We’re beyond grateful for your support! With your help, we can reach our goal of donating 700,000 servings to those in need by the end of 2024.

How to Join Our Hunger Relief Efforts

To learn more about our giveback programs and how you can participate in providing healthy food for people in need, check out our giving page.