The Olive Garden in Canton has been an avid supporter of food rescue initiatives for 14 years. Every Tuesday and Friday, volunteers pick up frozen food donations and deliver it directly to shelters and hot meal sites in Stark County. Fresh soups, sauces and pasta are prepared each morning; anything not used by the end of the day is donated to the prepared and perishable food rescue program of the Foodbank, Community Harvest.
“Olive Garden has been a tremendous supporter of our food rescue efforts,” said Faith Barbato, program director of Community Harvest. “Food from Olive Garden is a preferred food donation by our hunger-relief partners, and we’re lucky to have such a reliable and selfless partner in them.”
All of Olive Garden’s food donations are cooked and then frozen, which is the safest way to transport food and allows volunteer drivers to avoid spills. Last year, the restaurant provided nearly 11,000 pounds of food, the equivalent to more than 9,000 meals for Stark County individuals and families facing hunger.
“Corporate leaders in Darden saw an opportunity and were very clear about doing something good with our leftover food,” said General Manager Frank Miller.
The Canton location is the busiest Olive Garden in the state of Ohio, so Frank and his team ensure there is always an abundance of fresh food made each day.
“We’re so grateful for our local community who supports us, we should help out in any way we can. It’s morally the right thing to do. There are people out there who can definitely use it.”