Kum & Go Pilots Food Rescue Program

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Kum & Go LC is partnering with Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado on a food rescue pilot program.

Through the food rescue program, Kum & Go will donate excess prepared food to Care and Share for distribution to their partner agencies. Donated items include: breakfast sandwiches, hot and cold lunch sandwiches, salad and produce, fresh packaged bread, and mini bakery items.

"As we continue to look for ways to reduce waste, help our communities and tackle hunger close to home, we are excited to get the program up and running," commented Kum & Go Sustainability Manager Derek Nelson.

The program will pilot at the convenience store retailer’s newest Colorado Springs store located at 2422 Research Pkwy., and by year-end, it will expand to food pickups from all Kum & Go stores throughout the city.

"We're looking forward to this partnership with Kum & Go as we work together to take on hunger in our community," said Shannon Brice, chief development officer, Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado.

To raise awareness about the food bank, Kum & Go hosted a food drive at the store on Jan. 18. Every customer who donated at least one food item received a coupon for a free slice of pizza.

Kum & Go encourages its customers to donate the most needed items: canned fruit, canned vegetables, soup, canned meat or tuna, peanut butter, and cereal and oatmeal.

Announcement of the partnership was made at the grand opening celebration for Kum & Go’s newest Colorado Springs store, where it presented a $1,000 check to Care and Share.

West Des Moines-based Kum & Go operates more than 400 stores in 11 states. It has 14 stores in the Colorado Springs area, and 55 in the state of Colorado.