Every day, good food ends up in trash bins simply because it can’t be sold.
At the same time, there are Missouri families across the state who would buy those groceries if they could afford them.
Retail Rescue helps bridge that gap.
What’s Retail Rescue?
Retail Rescue is one of the largest sources of donated food in the Feeding Missouri network. Thanks to partnerships with retailers across the state, millions of pounds of food are rescued each year and redirected to neighbors experiencing food insecurity instead of ending up in landfills.
Our Statewide Impact
Reported 2025 Retail Rescue totals include:
- 15.6 million pounds recovered by St. Louis Area Foodbank
- 11.3 million pounds recovered by Harvesters
- 5.2 million pounds recovered by The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri
- 2.7 million pounds recovered by Southeast Missouri Food Bank
- 8.6 million pounds recovered by Ozarks Food Harvest
- 2.1 million pounds recovered by Second Harvest Community Food Bank
That’s over 45 million pounds of food redirected from landfills to dinner tables across Missouri.
Why Does It Matter?
More than 45 million pounds of food were rescued through retail rescue partnerships across Missouri in 2025. That’s a significant number, and the real story isn’t even in the pounds.
It’s what those pounds represent. Possibilities.
Every pound recovered is food that can nourish a child after school, support a senior on a fixed income, help a working family stretch their budget as they navigate rising costs of living, or provide some relief during a particularly difficult season in life.
For many families, that rescued food means one less impossible choice between groceries and another household expense.
Retail rescue is a reflection of what is possible when retailers, food banks, volunteers, and community partners work together to ensure that good food reaches people instead of landfills.
Good food belongs on tables, not in landfills.
That’s the power of partnership.
Across Missouri, grocery stores, food banks, volunteers, and community organizations are working together to reduce food waste, increase access to nutritious food, and strengthen communities.
Retail rescue demonstrates that solving hunger isn’t always about producing more food. It’s about ensuring the food that we already have is reaching the people who need it.
Food for Thought Reflection: What role can each of us play in helping ensure good food reaches people instead of landfills?
Until next time,
Hannah Wichern
Director of Communications and Outreach
Feeding Missouri