Our Mission

More than 117,000 people in Kern County do not know if they will be able to get enough food to eat or where their next meal was coming from. 30% of all food produced in America is wasted, and wasted food consumes 21% of all freshwater, 18% of all cropland, and 21% of all landfill volume.

Led by Kern County Public Health, Waste Hunger Not Food rescues surplus, edible food from schools that might otherwise be wasted and distributes it to those in need.

Kern County Public Health oversees and coordinates the transport of donated food from schools to distribution sites where the food will be made available to residents in need. Participants in The Open Door Network’s Job Development Program drive refrigerated vehicles transporting the food from donating schools and deliver it to local distribution sites. As food safety is of utmost importance, each driver is trained by the Kern County Public Health on proper food handling and transport.

Thank you to Kaiser Foundation Hospitals for providing grant funding to help support this program.