Program Tackles Hunger One Plate of Food at a Time

Two numbers mean a lot to Kevin Mullins: 23 and 50. The first number is how many millions of tons of usable food are thrown away every year across the country. The second is the number of millions of Americans living in a state of food insecurity.

“What we're finding is this is a whole new area of hunger. The majority of people suffering food insecurity aren't homeless. They have jobs, sometimes two or three jobs,” Mullins said in a conference room at the Christian Community Action office at 76 S. Main St. in Norwalk.

“After you pay rent and utilities, there just isn't enough left over to supply the types of food necessary to live in a healthy way,” said Mullins. An estimated 100,000 people across Fairfield County alone live in that situation, according to Mullins.

That's why he partnered with Jeff Schacher to create Community Plates, an organization that connects those people with food from restaurants, grocery stores and wholesalers that would otherwise go to waste. All of the rescued food is transferred directly from the donor to food insecure families throughout Fairfield County.

Schacher developed software to help manage the efforts of Community Plates, while Mullins took on the role of executive director. The program allows donation runners to manage pickups and deliveries while keeping the donors and recipients organized.

Historically, businesses have been cautious about donating food that was leftover or nearing the end of its shelf life out of liability concerns. Community Plates works because of a piece of legislation passed in 1996, Mullins said.

“The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act basically says if donated food and services are made in good faith, the donor can't be held liable. It's a law that makes sense,” he said. To be safe, Community Plates makes sure all donations are handled with care. If a food item is at all questionable, they dispose of it.

Mullins came to Connecticut in 2007 as a pastor with Northeast Community Church. He left last May to focus on his role as executive director with Community Plates but still serves as a pastor at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

“I felt we had an opportunity to be a help in people's lives in a real and useful way," Mullins said. "I often get to meet the people we serve. For me, this is a direct outflow of my faith."

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