Vancouver Food Runners has combined a winning formula of app technology and volunteerism to recover 3.8 million pounds of food destined for landfills and instead distribute it to non-profit organizations across Metro Vancouver.

The organization spends just 5% on administrative costs annually. That’s in part thanks to its 3,200 volunteer drivers who sign up through an app to shuttle food from 150 food businesses to 145 nonprofit organizations. Pickup and delivery of fresh food can all happen on the same day, eliminating VFR’s need for storage facilities.

By combining the app and volunteers, VFR can partner with smaller food businesses like restaurants, hotels, farms, and cafeterias, that have not historically had a mechanism for surplus food collection, says VFR executive director Michelle Reining.

Delivering directly to smaller regional charities also supports equitable food access. “We want to get healthy food to the neighbourhoods where residents live, as accessing the Greater Vancouver Food Bank site can be challenging for many people due to disability, childcare, cost, and access to transportation,” Reining said.

In 2025, VFR aims to recover 1.6 million pounds of food, mitigate 2.7 million pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, and increase the number of businesses donating food.

VFR will use its Project Change grant to fund volunteer training, and its staff members will receive mentorship support to review internal and external processes to help scale up the charity’s activities.

Read more about Vancouver Food Runners on their website.