Hunger Relief
According to the USDA, nearly 34 million people, including nine million children, in the United States are food insecure. Now more than ever, Starbucks is committed to supporting hunger relief in local communities– we believe it is our responsibility to help strengthen the communities we serve.
By the Numbers
$62.8 M
INVESTED
in hunger relief from Starbucks Corporation
>53.8 M
MEALS DONATED
through FoodShare
(1.2 pounds of food is equivalent to one meal)
64.6 M
POUNDS OF FOOD
diverted from waste streams
122.9 M
POUNDS OF CO2 EQUIVALENT
diverted from waste streams
Our Food Donation Journey
In 2016, Starbucks partners (employees) advocated for a program that would allow stores to donate unsold food and distribute it to people facing hunger in communities across the U.S. In response, Starbucks partnered with Feeding America®, and other hunger-relief organizations to create a sustainable food rescue program – FoodShare – that diverts surplus food from landfills and donate it to people facing hunger.
At the end of each day, Starbucks partners collect surplus pastries and fresh food to donate. Refrigerated trucks pick up the donations and transport them to a nearby distribution center. From there, donations are sorted and delivered to local food banks and mobile food pantries. Since 2016, Starbucks has invested more than $60 million into hunger relief efforts in the U.S., and has diverted more than 60 million pounds of food from waste streams – which is equivalent to more than 50 million meals.*
And, Starbucks has made a commitment to reinvest $100M into hunger relief by 2030. Here are a few of the strategic investments that have been made by Starbucks in the movement to end hunger:
FoodShare Capacity Building Grants
Recognizing the role that the NGO community plays in building the infrastructure for food recovery, Starbucks provides FoodShare capacity grants to local food banks and agencies in support of their food recovery and distribution efforts. To date, Starbucks has invested $3M in FoodShare Capacity Grants in the US.
Equitable Food Access Grants
Beyond donating our own food, Starbucks has also committed to supporting hunger relief in communities it serves. In 2021, Starbucks established an Equitable Food Access Grant with Feeding America designed to help food banks provide nutritious food to households with individuals from historically under resourced communities experiencing high rates of food insecurity. To date, Starbucks has invested $5 million to provide 16 food banks with capacity-building services to help implement localized plans to improve food access.
So far, during the first two years of the grant, participating food banks:
- Distributed more than 7 million pounds of food.
- Served more than 1 million individuals, including more than 280,000 children.
- Elevated community voices by engaging 3,000+ neighbors and 400+ community partners.
Food Bank Spotlight: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
In 2022, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank used grant funds to partner with the East Side Riders Bike Club and other local organizations to host food distributions, provide more fresh produce and increase healthy food options. More than 300 Starbucks partners have volunteered more than 887 hours at the food bank, contributing to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank distribution of 1,254,860 pounds of food, serving 150,499 individuals, including 36,120 children, in 2022 culturally relevant foods to enhance neighbors’ personal experiences.
Mobile Pantry Grants
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, about 2.4 million rural households are located in “food deserts” that don’t have local access to a grocery store. To help fill that gap, food bank trucks go into communities to give food away and meet people where they are. In 2019, Starbucks invested $1.5 million in mobile pantry programs for 17 food banks around the country allowing existing mobile pantries to increase deliveries and other food banks to establish mobile pantry trucks. To date, $2.69 million has been invested in food bank mobile pantry programs.
Childhood Nutrition Grants
In 2022, Starbucks made a $1M investment to No Kid Hungry to drive innovations and best practices supporting communities to feed children. Grant funding supported improved meal programs provided by schools and community-based organizations.
Take action
Donate
Contribute to Feeding America® or No Kid Hungry.
Establish your own donation program
Starbucks is an industry leader in sustainable food rescue, leveraging a backhaul logistics model to rescue and donate our own food at approximately 70% of our US company-owned stores. Download our guide to learn more about establishing a sustainable food donation program for your business.
*According to the USDA, 1.2 pounds of food is equivalent to one meal.
