With the government shutdown this fall, federal food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program were paused starting November 1, leaving over 40 million low-income Americans without their monthly SNAP payments. This resulted in growing concerns over how families facing food insecurity can access support. The Current recently reached out to Meriwether Godsey (MG), Potomac’s food service provider, about ways to potentially alleviate the stress on the community.
MG shared that they have an established partnership with Food Rescue USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to feeding the hungry, which enables them to redirect surplus food to those in need. Each week, MG donates items including sandwiches and soups, as well as “finished” dishes such as pasta with sauce or mac and cheese, which Food Rescue USA volunteers collect every Friday and distribute to various locations in Fairfax.
Notably, while many food banks are unable to accept pre-prepared foods, Food Rescue USA is equipped to accept a broad range of donations, maximizing the amount of food that reaches people facing food insecurity. MG also saves items that can be safely reused for future meal preparation, such as cooked proteins, plain pasta, and vegetables, which helps minimize waste. This commitment is highlighted on the MG website with the motto, “Don’t let good food end up in the trash!” However, MG’s goal of equitable and sustainable food distribution extends beyond the current disruptions in government funding. In addition to sourcing its ingredients from local purveyors, the company donates fryer grease for biofuel in partnership with Darling Ingredients (formerly Valley Proteins). It has composted well over 100,000 lbs of food scraps since 2015. Not to mention, many MG sites themselves feature gardens that educate communities on growing food.
In the face of the government shutdown, MG leveraged local partnerships to support people in need: just one component of a larger mission to address food insecurity in our community.
