Get involved!
All you have to do is bring excess food from our food donors to our nonprofit partners in your community. Food rescues typically take less than an hour of your time and can be done by public transportation, car, on foot, or bike depending on your branch. With just an hour of your time, you can help reduce wasted food and provide meals to people experiencing food insecurity in your community!
How it Works
Volunteer with Rescuing Leftover Cuisine*
Food rescue events take place throughout the morning, day, and night, seven days a week. Whether it’s once a month, week, or day, we always need your help as we work to provide a reliable food rescue service to reduce wasted food and hunger in our communities!
*If you are under 18 we will need a parental/legal guardian consent form to be signed and returned to us before you can attend any food rescue events. You’ll be prompted to email the form to your parent/legal guardian after you create your account.
*If you are under 16, you must also be accompanied by your parent/legal guardian to each food rescue event you attend until you turn 18. Thank you!
Rescuer Roles Per Branch
Overview of Rescuer Roles
Crew Volunteers can volunteer with RLC without completing training and without any sort of time or frequency commitment. You’ll be helping the food rescue event’s Lead Rescuer bring food donations from the donor to the designated nonprofit recipient partner. This role is only available in New York City.
Lead Rescuers are responsible for completing all steps necessary for a food rescue event. Lead Rescuers go through a brief training process and can then sign up to lead food rescue events on a recurring or sporadic basis. All Lead Rescuers can elect to lead food rescue events on a volunteer basis as Volunteer Lead Rescuers or as Paid Lead Rescuers, earning $10-$15 per pickup as independent contractors.
Interested in recurring group volunteer opportunities? Fill out this form and a team member will be in touch.
Interested in corporate volunteer opportunities? Visit our corporate opportunities page to learn more.
I started volunteering with RLC over 3 years ago. To say I love this organization is an understatement. Their volunteer model is perfect for people with busy schedules… for those who feel like they want to help their community but don’t have time. Carving out just 30 minutes to an hour out of your week to rescue food that would be thrown away helps reduce waste, feed the hungry, and save lives. It’s that simple. And it’s fun!” -Lauren, Lead Rescuer