Under the Inspire pillar, La Soupe works to support other cities implementing a similar model and create space to learn from each other, beginning with The Rescue Kitchen Network Capacity Building Program.
The Rescue Kitchen Network Capacity Building Program
An initiative led by La Soupe and Second Helpings, The Rescue Kitchen Network Capacity Building program works to support organizations to help them scale up their operations around what we do best: RESCUE, TRANSFORM, and SHARE delicious food with local community partners!
Why replicate?
We know that a significant portion of individuals seeking help from pantries are unable to cook for themselves for a variety of reasons including - lack of access to equipment, a physical or mental disability, or a time of crisis in their life. Additionally, we know that like people accessing traditional markets for food, an estimated 50% of the time people are looking for prepared foods to make things a bit easier for themselves or their families.
At the same time, some ingredients offered to food rescues are best utilized in commercial kitchens. Bulk packaged, restaurant marketed, nontraditional and near expiration ingredients can be transformed and fully utilized in a kitchen to a greater extent than in a pantry.
Food rescue is a solution to food waste well beyond the Cincinnati region. Organizations have been reaching out to La Soupe and our Indianapolis-based partner, Second Helpings, for years seeking support for their growing programs. In 2022, due to the generous support of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and Governor Mike DeWine, La Soupe and Second Helpings developed a training program designed to provide such organizations with ongoing training and support for dramatic growth.
Program Overview
The Rescue Kitchen Network Capacity Building Program is a one year mentoring program for chef-driven food rescue organizations. It focuses on essential operational levers such as Rescue / Share partner development, inventory management, impact measurement, kitchen development, operational effectiveness, volunteer engagement and food safety in a food rescue organization.
The targeted program will accept 4-6 participant organizations to enable individualized coaching of each cohort member and networking with others in the program. Programming will include presentations with leaders in the field, site visits to established transform kitchen(s), and structured deliverables to establish (or grow) thier offerings.
Benefits
Mentorship and support from leading organizations as well as peer organizations for the roadblocks you currently face,
Resources such as our operations guide covering all aspects of running a Rescue Transform Share program,
Join a community of like-minded organizations committed to scaling effective meal programs. Maintain these great connections after graduation from the program with regular networking sessions!
Applications are open for our FY25 cohort. Applications due by June 1.
Program Requirements:
Be a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit with the capacity to commit to the program.
Demonstrate a commitment to rescuing, transforming and distributing healthy food to agencies addressing food insecurity.
Have a professional chef on staff or the willingness and resources to hire one.
Experience with commercial food production and access to a commercial kitchen capable of volume meal production OR experience running a food rescue at scale and readiness to build capacity utilizing food rescue.
Demonstrate your commitment to food safety through:
Board of Health or Department of Agriculture Licensure (or similar),
Food safety training for staff (Servsafe or similar).
Have identified a need in their community for a transform model that expands utilization of and access to healthy foods.
Complete an application to participate in the program and contribute a participation fee of $5,000.
What current participants say about the program:
“The weekly training sessions are well-organized and informative, and the opportunity to model ourselves after a more developed program and learn from people who started where we are is priceless. It has also been beneficial to interact with fellow program participants and see what has and has not worked for them.” - Stephany Below, Timothy’s Perrysburg Foundation
“There is so much nuance in food rescue, so this program is really great at breaking down those intricacies and helping to define them, but with slightly differing perspectives. I think that staff y'all have are wonderful and a main reason that we've found value in the program.” - Sam Talarczyk, We Don’t Waste
Strengths include: “The people running and in the program. Community, experience, the chance to ask lots of questions and get perspective from people who are at different points in the process of growing. To see the kitchens in action. Being told that we absolutely could do this and being shown how, step-by-step. And, also, realistically, the access to funds. Not having to try to do this on our own is amazing though. I can't imagine how long it might have taken us to feel ready to undertake this otherwise.” - Emily Rials and Susan Swinford, Local Matters (Columbus Food Rescue)
Contact
Thank you for considering a transform model to help reduce waste and support food security in your community. We would love to connect with you.
To learn more or to apply please contact:
Katie Funk kfunk@lasoupe.org
Inspire and Innovation Program Director