Turning excess into access: Mimi’s crusade against food insecurity

Finding herself with some unexpected free time last year, Mimi Minto decided to make it count by seeking meaningful volunteer work. 

"I just didn't want to feel like my time was wasted," said Mimi, Label Coordinator with Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Clinical Research business.

As she explored her options, Mimi reflected on her own family history.  

In an instant, her decision became clear – her volunteer work needed to be local, impactful and involve food.

"I am first generation born in the U.S. I have family members who have experienced food insecurity in Jamaica,” she said. "Food is something that unifies all of us. We all need it, and it doesn't matter who you are or where you're from if your stomach is rumbling," she explained.

With these criteria in mind, Mimi was thrilled when a friend introduced her to Food Rescue U.S. and soon set out on a personal journey to help local food establishments reduce their food waste while addressing food insecurity in her community of Durham, North Carolina. 

Using an app, Mimi gets matched with restaurants and bakeries looking to donate their extra food and charities seeking meals. She then shuttles the surplus between the organizations, bridging the gap between abundance and need. 

A simple action with a big impact

Although a coordinator arranges the pickups and deliveries, Mimi has adopted regular routes, transporting surplus goods three days a week from two local bakeries to the Urban Ministries of Durham, and Durham Tech Campus Pantry. Since these organizations are conveniently located along her commute, Mimi integrates her volunteer work into her daily routine.

 

She also responds to other unique requests as they arise.

 

"A new restaurant recently opened up nearby. In order to properly train employees, they had to make dozens and dozens of meals that normally would have gone to waste. I was able to bring those meals to the Ronald McDonald House and Durham Rescue Mission instead."

 

Sometimes the donations are so substantial that Mimi needs to come up with creative solutions.

 

"One week Isaac's Bagels was a little overzealous with their production and ended up with about 80 pounds of bagels to donate. I showed up at Urban Ministries to donate the bagels, and they did not have enough room for all of them! I called around and found that the nearby Durham Rescue Mission would happily accept the rest," recalls Mimi.  

Food for the soul

Mimi has become a welcome, familiar face to the folks who benefit from these donations.

"They see me pull up in my little red Mazda and say, 'Hey it's the bread lady!’ They are always grateful and appreciative to see me which in turn makes me feel good to not only provide a needed service, but also make connections with people in my community. It is an honor that I can play a small role in reducing food insecurity for some people," she said.

“While I couldn't help my family in Jamaica years ago, I am now in a position to help others and share my blessings with those in need.”

Food Rescue U.S. tracks all of Mimi’s donations and in the 11 months since she started volunteering, she has rescued 1,629 pounds of food – the equivalent of 1,358 meals.

In addition to her supporting her community, Mimi’s efforts have had a significant environmental impact, reducing 4,564 pounds of carbon dioxide and saving 37,190 gallons of water.

Serving up volunteer opportunities

For those considering volunteering, Mimi suggests starting locally and finding a cause that resonates personally. "You don't have to do anything grand. I give half an hour, three days a week, and I've managed to feed 1,300 people," she said. 

 

In the end, it's about starting small and staying consistent. As Mimi puts it, "Just start. Just put yourself out there and just start."

Back to top