In this episode, we explore the impactful work of Move for Hunger, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing food waste and fighting hunger through innovative food recovery programs. Our guests, Stephanie De La Hoz and Kyla Crisp, share insights into their initiatives, challenges, and how partnerships with logistics providers like Hoplite are transforming food rescue efforts.

00:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:50 – Guest Introductions and Experience: Stephanie and Kyla introduce themselves and describe their backgrounds in food banking and non-profit work

03:03 – History and Mission of Move for Hunger: Stephanie details how the organization was founded 17 years ago by Adam Loey to prevent food waste during residential moves

05:08 – Scaling Impact and Evolving Logistics: Discussion on how the organization expanded from small residential pickups to a charity freight network moving over 70 million pounds of food annually

07:54 – How Food Donations are Sourced: Insights into how the organization identifies donations through outreach to farms, manufacturers, and partnerships with other food recovery groups

09:40 – Building the Charity Freight Network: Stephanie explains the trial-and-error process of building a sophisticated logistics network without prior industry backgrounds

14:22 – Addressing Shipper Concerns and Liability: A look at the common hurdles for donors, including liability fears and the protection offered by the Bill Emerson Act

18:50 – How to Get Involved: Information for shippers and organizations interested in partnering with Move for Hunger through their website and social media

19:32 – Current Challenges: Gas Prices and Logistics: Kyla discusses the impact of rising fuel costs on their budget and the logistical effort of coordinating large-scale produce drops

22:11 – Flexibility in Distribution: The benefits of working outside restricted food bank networks to ensure rejected or surplus loads are moved quickly

24:42 – Preventing Waste Across All Food Types: Why the organization chooses to repurpose non-nutritious food items (like ice cream toppings) to prevent landfill waste

27:08 – New Initiatives: Freight Savings Program: Overview of a new program helping food banks reduce their own transportation costs by leveraging the charity’s logistics support

29:12 – Community Outreach and Events: Discussion on “activations” at industry conferences where attendees can participate in meal-packing events

31:10 – Partnership Gratitude and Closing: Closing remarks reflecting on the 1.7 million pounds of food moved through this specific partnership over the last year