Food Rescue US - Lansing Commmunities

Valerie Lafferty has worked in the non-profit and for-profit areas, as well as state government. Her educational background is in the social sciences and law from Michigan State and Wayne State University.  At retirement she started volunteering on environmental issues starting with the League of Women Voters in Lansing on Organic Waste Management, then Meridian Township as an Environmental Commissioner, and finally with a group of like-minded volunteers who sat up monthly Zoom calls with subject matter experts during COVID. 

The knowledge gained from that 2-year endeavor helped lead the way to rescuing fresh produce during the Michigan growing season at the Meridian Farmers Market, promote a food scrap collection program with Gabi plus introduced Val & friends to the benefits of aligning with Food Rescue US 1.5 years ago.  This partnership has allowed year-round rescue of produce and other essential perishable foods. 

With the help of Gabi Mayer, plus Dave Batten and Sue Ziara from the Gleaning Program, the site took off like wildfire!  Within a year and a half we are doing 140 rescues a month with almost 90 volunteers signed up to serve 40 social service agencies in and around our greater Lansing area.

We are so impressed with our volunteers, love the receiving agencies and our generous donors!  I genuinely feel that  collectively we are making a solid contribution to a better mid-Michigan environment as well as a better connected, caring and healthier community!  So nice…