As we bid farewell to another extraordinary year at Goodr, we find ourselves reflecting on everything we’ve done since January. In 2023, our commitment to fighting food waste and hunger relief has not only endured but thrived. This year has been nothing short of remarkable – from proudly clinching prestigious awards that acknowledge our innovative approach to solving hunger to launching our very first Goodr Garden. This year, we also expanded our reach to 12 new markets while strengthening bonds with long-standing partners and bringing new partners into the Goodr family. It’s been a year of growth, impact, and the relentless pursuit of our mission. Let’s take a look back at the highlights, victories, and collective effort that has made 2023 another memorable and impact-filled chapter in the Goodr story.
Our Biggest Moments
This year was big for our team and our work! Not only did we launch new initiatives and hunger solutions, but we were also honored to receive several awards, features, and unique opportunities for our work to feed more and waste less. Here are some of our biggest moments this year:
Mobile Grocery Store
In March, we launched our new initiative – the Goodr Mobile Grocery Store in Atlanta with our partners Amazon, Mailchimp, MARTA, Verizon, and Wellstar. The Goodr Mobile Grocery Store is a shoppable 26-foot truck stocked with grocery items, including fresh produce, milk, eggs, and shelf-stable items – all for free. The goal of the truck is to bring Goodr’s signature free grocery shopping experience to even more food-insecure communities, particularly rural ones, across the state.
Goodr Garden with EarthGang and Universal Music Group
At Goodr, we’re always working to find new ways to bring food to communities that need it. This year that looked like opening a Goodr Garden at Jean Childs Young Middle School in partnership with rap duo EarthGang and Universal Music Group. The garden will allow students to learn about food systems while having free access to fresh food. See more from the launch of this event with EarthGang, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, and more community leaders.
Big Game Pop-Up in Arizona with Visible
Ahead of this February’s Big Game, we teamed up with Visible by Verizon to provide 1,000 Phoenix families with free groceries. With prices rising on everything, we knew it was the perfect time to bring our hunger relief work to the Phoenix community. We were proud to be joined by Phoenix Mayor, Kate Gallego, cheerleaders from the Arizona Cardinals, and the Super Bowl Host Committee.
goBeyondProfit 2023 Champion Award
We were honored to receive the goBeyondProfit Champion award this year. goBeyondProfit’s Champion award recognizes businesses and leaders making a difference in the community and the lives of others. We received this award for our work “developing innovative business solutions that bring countless companies into the fight against hunger and food waste.”
More Than That Show with Gia Peppers
It’s always a gift to be able to share our mission, our work, and more information on the urgent issues of food insecurity and food waste. It was an aamazing experience to be able to do that on the More Than That Show with Gia Peppers. We sat down with host, Gia Peppers, and Jamila Norman, owner of Patchwork City Farms to discuss food systems in Atlanta and beyond, to explain the connection between food insecurity and food waste, and to explain how our organizations are trying to fix these big issues. Take a look at this informative episode.
Our Partners
The work we do to recover surplus food, keep good food out of landfills, and bring fresh groceries to food insecure communities would not be possible without our partners across the country. Our partners believe in our mission and work with us to create meaningful change in access and food systems nationwide. We are proud that this year we continued our work with long-term partners like Amazon, March of Dimes, Aetna, Capital One, Wellstar Health and Quality Control Music. At the same time, we welcomed so many new partners on this journey including Shelby County Schools, Covanta, Krispy Krunchy Chicken, American Family Insurance, Common Spirit Health, and many more. Check out our partnerships in action.
Our Shoppers
The most important part of the work we do is the impact it has on real people. We’re proud to know that all our services have an impact on real people, from Surplus Food Recovery to our Hunger Solutions like Pop-Up Grocery Markets to our Goodr Grocery Stores. One of the best gifts is hearing how our shoppers and recipients feel about the food they get from our solutions. Take a look at some of the direct feedback we’ve gotten from some of the wonderful people we’ve served.
Our first delivery was fantastic. Our food bills have gone up more than a third. {And} it’s especially nice because our kitchen staff is understaffed and overwhelmed with the holiday demands. We fed 100 people three prepared meals a day. Thank you for what you are doing.
– Christine Wicker, Nonprofit Director of Development
Y’all just don’t know how y’all saved our life though. We were one of the tornado victims. Our house got torn up in a tornado and we ended up being homeless for a while. But this is a help because we lost all of everything.
– Mobile Grocery Store shopper
Our Goodr shoppers are truly impressed by the shopping experience: food options, store layout and the ability to pick out their own food. There is always gratitude and smiles alongside some tears.
– Denver Goodr Grocery Store Champion
Having the money to buy groceries and daily stuff has been a struggle, so this {Pop-Up Grocery Market} has been a blessing.
– Pop-Up Grocery Market Shopper
Our Impact
With the help of our dedicated partners, we were able to do more Goodr for the planet and people this year. Let’s dig into 2023’s impact numbers:
2.3M Meals Served
1.5M Pounds of Food Distributed
13M Pounds Diverted from Landfill
6.3M Pounds of CO2e Prevented
$4.7M in Economic Value Added
As we wrap up this year, we are filled with immense pride for the incredible strides we’ve made and all who helped us make them. The meals served, pounds diverted from landfills, the impactful partnerships, and the honors—all of these accomplishments are a testament to the dedication of our team, partners, and the entire Goodr community. Our commitment to ending hunger and food waste remains unwavering, and as we step into the new year, we’re ready to accomplish even more. Here’s to a brighter, more sustainable, and impactful 2024!
