Kaizen Food Rescue

KAIZEN FOOD RESCUE AIMS TO PREVENT FOOD WASTE AND IMPROVE FOOD JUSTICE AND HEALTH EQUITY IN THE DENVER METRO AREA. OUR VISION IS TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY AND FOOD JUSTICE IN THE DENVER METRO AREA BECAUSE WE BELIEVE HEALTHY AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOODS SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL.

COMMUNITY AND POP-UP FOOD SHARES (INCLUDES ELDER FOOD SHARES, SOLIDARITY FOOD SHARES, EL MERCADO PARA TODOS): COMMUNITY POP-UP FOOD SHARES ARE TEMPORARY FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENTS THAT ARE ORGANIZED BY COMMUNITY-LED GROUPS OR ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR MEMBERS OF A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY. POP-UP FOOD SHARES MAY BE HELD IN A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS, SUCH AS COMMUNITY CENTERS, SCHOOLS, OR CHURCHES, AND THEY MAY BE SET UP AS DRIVE-THROUGH OR WALK-UP EVENTS. COMMUNITY POP-UP FOOD SHARES CAN BE A VALUABLE WAY TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND PROMOTE FOOD SECURITY IN A COMMUNITY. THIS PAST YEAR 2023, WE DISTRIBUTED MORE 3 MILLION POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT FOOD TO PEOPLE SUFFERING FOOD INSECURITY IN MORE THAN 93 ZIP CODES.

URBAN GARDEN AND EDUCATION PROGRAM:THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF PRODUCE, AS WELL AS PLANT STARTS AND SEEDS ARE DONATED TO LOW INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO IMPART GREATER FOOD SECURITY AND HUNGER RELIEF IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE USE THE "TAKE WHAT YOU NEED AND LEAVE THE REST FOR THE COMMUNITY" CONCEPT. THE GARDEN WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE HELP OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO DONATED SEEDS, SEEDLINGS, AND COMPOST. YOUTH VOLUNTEERS, WITH THE GUIDANCE OF FRONTLINE FARMING AND SPIRIT OF THE SUN, HELP MAINTAIN THE GARDEN, AND SURPLUS PRODUCE IS DONATED TO OUR FOOD SHARE PROGRAM. IN 2023, KAIZEN RECEIVED SEVERAL GRANTS FROM THE CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER TO FACILITATE EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS WITH LOCAL BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) FARMERS AND HIRE A YOUTH TEAM TO CULTIVATE THE GARDEN. KAIZEN PLANS TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND THESE WORKSHOPS IN THE 2024 GROW SEASON!

THE LITTLE BODEGA - CHF: AS A PART OF OUR COLLABORATIVE GOALS IN TAKING TANGIBLE, ACTIVE STEPS TOWARD FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, "THE LITTLE BODEGA" INITIATIVE IS A NO-COST COMMUNITY MARKET DESIGNED AND RUN BY LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS. FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IS THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE TO HEALTHY AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD PRODUCED THROUGH ECOLOGICALLY SOUND AND SUSTAINABLE METHODS, AND TO DEFINE THEIR OWN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS. ON TOP OF INCORPORATING COMMUNITY WEALTH-BUILDING ELEMENTS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO CO-CREATING INNOVATIVE SOLIDARITY MEASURES TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMSPECIFICALLY FOR OUR FELLOW BIPOC FARMERS, PRODUCERS, AND ALLIES. IN ADDITION TO THE $220K YEAR 3 COLORADO HEALTH FOUNDATION GRANT TO BUY FOOD AND SUPPORT FOOD DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS, WE JUST RECEIVED THIS PAST DECEMBER 2023 A ANOTHER CHF GRANT TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL A SOLAR COOLER.