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Food Rescue US - South Florida

Be The Rescue.

Food Rescue US - South Florida is committed to ending hunger and reducing food waste by same-day delivering fresh, usable food that would have otherwise been thrown away from grocers, restaurants, and other food industry sources to shelters, pantries and food-insecure families throughout the U.S.  By reducing food waste, decomposing food is kept from landfills where it produces harmful methane gas that negatively impacts the climate.

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Fontaine Bleau food donor in Miami
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A woman and teen girl smile and hold boxes of fresh tomatoes
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3 volunteers rescue food from the F1 Miami race in 2023
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Site Lifetime Numbers - Established 2018

12,240,350

LBS of food kept from landfill

10,200,292

Meals Provided

11,591,919

LBS of Co2eq Offset

200

Food Donor Partners

80

Social Service Agency Partners

1,175

Volunteers

Our SITE Team

Site Director

Ellen Bowen

Ellen Bowen, Food Rescue US - South Florida site director

ellen@foodrescue.us
203-984-0485

Ellen Bowen is the Site Director for Food Rescue US – South Florida. As Founder and Managing Director of popular Miami food blog, MIAbites, she heard from many of her contacts and chefs about the excessive amounts of food wasted every day at hotels, restaurants, events, and markets and partnered in 2018 with national non-profit Food Rescue US to launch their technology-based food rescue platform in Miami and Broward counties.

To date, using the Food Rescue US web-based app to connect food donors with social service agencies and volunteer rescuers, over 12 million pounds of edible food has been kept from landfills and directly provided to local shelters, food pantries, and the food insecure.  In 2020, over 40,000 pounds were rescued from Hard Rock Stadium from the Super Bowl. During COVID, over 65,000 meals were provided as part of our Community Kitchen program. We have rescued over the past three years from Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix with this year topping 75,000 pounds recovered and distributed to over 10 social service agencies in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

View Ellen's Bio


Community Engagement Coordinator

Jane Marie Russell

Jane Marie Russell

communitysouthfl@foodrescue.us

Jane Marie, a volunteer with Food Rescue US - South Florida since December 2018, is our Community Engagement Coordinator. A Miami native and corporate attorney, she takes any opportunity to talk about Food Rescue US with everyone she meets.  Jane Marie helps organize volunteer groups and spearheads corporate donation campaigns. In November 2023, she ran the NYC Marathon, raising over $5400 for Food Rescue US.

View Jane Marie's Bio


Broward County Site Coordinator

Gina Dotson

Gina Dotson - Broward County Site Coordinator

gdotson007@gmail.com

With an extensive and multifaceted career spanning over two decades, Gina has established herself as a distinguished Human Resources Officer specializing in the healthcare sector. She holds a unique blend of professional qualifications and experiences as a certified life and meditation coach, bringing a holistic approach to workforce management and employee well-being.

In addition to her role in human resources, Gina has had the opportunity to serve as a congressional liaison to the Honorable William Lehman, navigating the complexities of legislative processes and facilitating effective communication between the congressman’s office and various stakeholders.

Prior to this role, she was stationed in West Berlin, Germany as a German Linguist in the U.S. Army intelligence branch.

Gina is also deeply invested in community service and volunteerism and serves as a Guardian ad Litem, advocating for the best interests of children in the court system.

She is also a dedicated volunteer for Food Rescue US of South Florida for the past two years actively working to combat food waste and hunger within her community.  As Site Coordinator, Gina will cover Fort Lauderdale, Pompano and Deerfield and surrounding areas.

View Gina's Bio

Site Associate

Laurita Santacaterina

Laurita Santacaterina, Site Associate at Food Rescue US - South Florida

laurita@foodrescue.us
504-458-3273

Laurita Santacaterina is the Site Coordinator for Food Rescue US South Florida. She began her journey as a volunteer in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the community faced significant food insecurity challenges. Since then, Laurita has transitioned to her current role, where she oversees daily operations, coordinates large-scale rescues from events and distribution centers, plans and executes our Food Distribution "Farmers Markets", collaborating with donors, social service agencies, and volunteers to distribute unused, unsold food to those in need, thereby also preventing food waste and helping climate change. In her spare time, Laurita enjoys paddleboarding, spending time with friends, and relaxing at the beach

View Laurita's Bio

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Broward Site Coordinator

Wynne Avellanet

Wynne Avellanet

waavellanet@gmail.com

Wynne is a Site Coordinator for Food Rescue US South Florida focusing on the West Broward area.  She began her volunteer work with Food Rescue in November 2020 when she first rescued 150 pumpkin pies from the Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, and delivered to the residents at Broward Partnership. At that moment on, she was hooked on getting food to those who needed it most while reducing food waste.  Wynne also holds a full time position with NSU University School as its Director of Parent and Alumni Relations and loves to travel with her two sons and husband, also fellow food rescuers. 

View Wynne's Bio

Recent News

Food Rescue US - South Florida featured on the New York Times's site, The Athletic
The Athletic: How F1's Miami GP's food surplus feeds the city and fights climate change
CBS News Miami - F1 Food Rescue
F1 Miami Grand Prix Donates Leftover Food to Nonprofit
CBS News Miami - Share Table feature
Miami Proud: Miami- Dade students 'share table' is helping to fight climate change
Site Director Ellen Bowen video feature by Junior League Miami
Food Rescue US South Florida Junior League Miami
Miami Herald article thumbnail
Miami Herald: Feed the hungry, fight climate change: The campaign to curb food waste in South Florida
Broken Plate Article Thumbnail
A program Lets Elementary Students Share Their Snacks With the Homeless

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Related Blog Posts

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Close a Rescue

Closing out a rescue with accurate information is vitally important to the rescue process as it will directly impact our reporting on how many lbs....

Close a Rescue

Closing out a rescue with accurate information is vitally important to the rescue process as it will directly impact our reporting on how many lbs....

Close a Rescue

Closing out a rescue with accurate information is vitally important to the rescue process as it will directly impact our reporting on how many lbs....

Food Donors

Contact Ellen Bowen with questions.

Social Service Agencies

Adopt a Family Miami LLC (Miami Beach)
All Souls Episcopal Church (Miami Beach)
Be the Change South Florida (South Miami)
Bread of Life (Miami)
Broward Outreach Center/Caring Place (Hollywood)
Broward Partnership (Fort Lauderdale)
Buddy System – check website for locations (Miami)
Caring for Miami (Miami)
Carrfour/Royalton House (Downtown Miami)
Camillus House (Downtown Miami)
Centro Mater Childcare (Little Havana)
Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry (Coconut Grove)
Coral Gables United Church of Christ (Coral Gables)
Cornerstone Ministries International (Miami)
Cosac Shelters (Fort Lauderdale)
Curleys House (Liberty City, Miami)
Enriched Foods Miami (Homestead)
Greenhaven Project Urban Farm (Overtown)
Grove Outreach (Coconut Grove)
Joseph Dreamhouse (Fort Lauderdale)
Joshua’s Heart (North Miami)
Kristi House Miami (Little Haiti)
Las Marianitas Convent Food Pantry (Opaloka)
Lighthouse Angels (Miami)
Miami Central Spanish SDA Church (Little Havana)
Miami Peniel Church of Nazarene (Little Haiti)
Miami Rescue Mission/ Caring Place (Wynwood)
MiamiChapman Partnership (Downtown Miami)
Miami Gateway Outreach Center (Deerfield Beach)
Miami Iglesia Rescate Food Pantry (Hialeah)
Ministerio Unidos en Amor Church of God (Hialeah)
Mirimar United Methodist Church (Miramar)
One World One Heart (Downtown Miami)
Salvation Army Shelter (Allapattah)
St. Andrews Episcopal Church (Pinecrest)
St. Hugh’s Parish (Coconut Grove)
Sundari Foundation, Inc. dba Lotus House (Overtown, Miami)
Village FREEdge Pantry (Liberty City, Miami)
YMCA of Allapattah (Allapattah)

HOMELESS AND HOUSING SERVICES

Stephen P. Clark Building/Government Center

111 NW 1st Street, 1st Floor, Miami, FL 33128

305-960-4980

 

Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust: 305-375-1490

111 Nw 1st St Ste 27-310, Miami, FL 33128-1902

Homeless Helpline: 877-994-4357 (Press 3)

National Call Center For Veteran Homelessness: 877-424-3838

List of Agencies