Food Finders Turns Surplus Food Into a Lifeline

For 37 years, Food Finders has worked to ensure good food reaches people who need it most while reducing the amount of edible food that goes to waste. Founded in Long Beach in 1989, the nonprofit food rescue organization has grown from a local initiative into a regional network connecting surplus food donors with nonprofit partners throughout Southern California.

Food Finders rescues quality surplus food from grocery stores, manufacturers, farms, schools, and other food donors and redistributes it to nonprofit organizations that provide meals, groceries, and resources to individuals and families throughout the community.

Today, Food Finders partners with more than 330 nonprofit organizations across Southern California, helping transform surplus food into a resource for communities while reducing the environmental impact of food waste. Through collaboration with food donors, volunteers, and nonprofit partners, the organization works to build a more sustainable food system where good food is recovered instead of discarded.

Food Finders continues to expand its impact through programs that support local communities. Food 4 Kids provides weekend meal boxes and nutrition resources to students experiencing food insecurity or housing instability through partnerships with 47 schools in the Long Beach Unified School District. The Community Marketplace at Admiral Kidd Park, held once a month on the fourth Saturday, provides free fresh groceries to local families. The Food HUB offers weekly opportunities for Food Finders’ nonprofit partner agencies to pick up fresh, refrigerated rescued food and distribute it to the communities they serve.

Additional programs, including Backyard Harvest, support food rescue efforts by recovering excess fruits and vegetables from residential gardens and redirecting them through community partners. Together, these programs help increase access to nutritious food while preventing edible food from going to waste.

Volunteers, food donors, and community partners remain essential to Food Finders’ continued success. Their support helps rescue, sort, and distribute donated food to organizations serving communities throughout Southern California.

To celebrate its continued mission and community impact, Food Finders will host Ignite the Night on Sept. 18, 2026, from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Mayne Event Center in Bellflower. The fundraising event will feature Cuban-inspired cuisine, cocktails, live Cuban music, dancing, and auction experiences, with proceeds supporting Food Finders’ programs and services.

For more information about Food Finders and its programs, visit foodfinders.org.