Ashley knows the power of rescued food.

Not just because she manages the bakery at Sprouts in Lafayette, where her team keeps the shelves stocked with delicious goods but because just a few years ago, she was unsure where her next meal would come from. That is, until she found Community Food Share.

“I was rebuilding my life,” she says. “Community Food Share kept me alive.”

At the time, Ashley was receiving support from Mental Health Partners, where food from Community Food Share helped keep her nourished during some of her hardest days. For five years, she focused on her recovery. And at the end of that long, transformative journey, she experienced a moment she’ll never forget:

“I crossed the line from the patient side of the room to the employee side. That moment meant everything.”

She was officially hired by Mental Health Partners—the very organization that once helped her heal.

“They waived all the costs of my recovery. They could do that because of partners like Community Food Share stepping up with food and support.”

As an employee, Ashley visited the food bank herself—not as a recipient this time, but to shop for food she would cook for others working toward sobriety.

“I used to cook meals for detox clients with rescued food. Spaghetti, deli sandwiches, fresh fruit—whatever we could find. A cookie might not seem like much. But if you can’t afford it… that little thing means a lot.

A Full-Circle Moment

Today, Ashley’s on the other side of the equation. As a bakery manager at Sprouts, she now oversees the donation of the same kinds of food she once received—cookies, sandwiches, produce, and more—through Retail to the Rescue, Community Food Share’s daily food recovery program.

Every weekday, our drivers visit over 40 grocery stores to rescue fresh, nutritious items like dairy, produce, meat, and yes—baked goods—that are no longer sellable, but still perfectly safe to eat.

These foods are sorted, weighed, and distributed to programs like our onsite Pantry, Mobile Pantries, and a network of more than 40 partner agencies. Some donations even make it to the very programs where Ashley once worked.

“I’ve seen the whole process. From cooking with rescued food to donating it. It gives me goosebumps. I know where it’s going. It means so much.”

The Bigger Picture

In FY24 alone, our Retail to the Rescue program recovered 5.8 million pounds of food—enough for over 6.6 million meals. Without this program, our shelves would be empty in just three weeks.

Ashley’s story is just one of many that shows how rescued food does more than fill bellies—it restores health, saves money, builds community, and fuels hope.

“Milk from Horizon, deli sandwiches, ground beef—it made such a difference. We could stretch every donation into something nourishing. It saved us so much money.”

Why It Matters

“Community Food Share kept me alive. I want to give back as much as I can.”

Ashley’s story is a reminder that food is never “just” food. A rescued cookie can be a lifeline. A gallon of milk can bring stability. A friendly volunteer can offer dignity and kindness in a difficult moment.

And when someone like Ashley returns years later to help others? That’s the full circle in action.

You can help complete the circle.

Your support keeps programs like Retail to the Rescue on the road, rescuing food, reducing waste, and restoring lives.

Donate Now and Support Retail to the Rescue!