Latest news with #Potluck
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Arkansas nonprofit launches campaign to keep food cold and families fed
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Little Rock-based nonprofit is taking bold steps to fight food waste and hunger at the same time. Potluck Food Rescue, a longtime leader in salvaging surplus food from grocery stores, restaurants, and caterers, is now facing a new challenge: keeping all that food fresh in the upcoming Arkansas heat. Central Arkansas nonprofit combating food insecurity sees rise in demand Now, they're launching a new campaign, Cool-Aid: Breaking Down Barriers to Cold Storage, to call on the community for help. 'A working refrigerator or freezer may not seem like much,' said Chris Wyman, Executive Director of Potluck Food Rescue, 'but for food rescue groups across the state, it can mean the difference between feeding a family and throwing away a meal.' In 2024, Potluck rescued more than one million pounds of edible food, transforming what would have been waste into over 800,000 meals and saving its nonprofit partners more than $2 million in food costs. Arkansas nonprofit launches new app to combat food insecurity in the state But now, demand is higher than ever. And many of the 115 organizations Potluck partners with simply don't have enough cold storage to safely handle the volume of food being rescued. 'We have a lot of agencies that just don't have that capacity,' Wyman said. 'That's a barrier. So the whole idea of Cool-Aid is to break that barrier.' Wyman says more than 20 new nonprofits have reached out for food assistance just in the past month. But without more refrigerators and freezers to store perishable items like produce, dairy, and meat, that food risks spoiling before it reaches the people who need it most. 'We want to help our recipient agencies to get refrigeration, to get freezers, so they can take more stuff from us,' Wyman said. Potluck Food Rescue in North Little Rock receives $90,000 Blue and You Foundation grant to launch rapid food recovery app According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Food prices are up 2.8 percent since this time last year, adding pressure on both struggling families and the organizations trying to support them. Meanwhile, the country continues to throw away billions of pounds of edible food annually. 'We are a country of surplus,' Wyman said. 'It's not waste at that point, but it's being treated as such, and it ends up in a dumpster. Someone pays a dumpster fee, and someone else doesn't get fed.' Through the 'Cool-Aid' campaign, Potluck is seeking donations of working refrigerators and freezers, or financial support to purchase new units, for its partners across Arkansas. For many families facing empty pantries this summer, a cold fridge could mean a hot meal. To learn more or contribute to the campaign, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Central Arkansas nonprofit combating food insecurity sees rise in demand
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — While hunger rises across the state, one Arkansas nonprofit is working daily to fight it, one rescued meal at a time. Potluck Food Rescue, a central Arkansas nonprofit that diverts surplus food from landfills to community organizations, has seen a dramatic rise in demand. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs food insecurity executive order, calls for action The number of organizations requesting food has surged, with 20 new partners reaching out just in the last few weeks alone. 'The last thing people need to worry about is where their next meal is coming from, no one should ever have to worry about that,' said Chris Wyman, executive director of Potluck Food Rescue. While Potluck doesn't serve consumers directly, it supplies food to nearly 115 partner organizations that do, including shelters, schools, and community kitchens. Its mission tackles two problems at once: hunger and food waste. Every day, thousands of pounds of edible food are discarded in Central Arkansas. Potluck steps in before that happens. 'Those numbers are important,' Wyman said. 'You know, when we see those—we see people.' According to Wyman, a mix of inflation, SNAP benefit cuts, and newly imposed tariffs is driving more families into food insecurity and sending more organizations to Potluck's doorstep for help. 'That's going to lead to a lot of price spikes at places like our local grocers,' Wyman explained. 'What that ends up leading to—and with budget cuts to SNAP as well—is that people simply can't afford these prices.' 'And you know,' he added, 'our paychecks haven't matched inflation in decades.' Wyman believes this crisis will only deepen in the coming months as even more food becomes unaffordable, and ultimately, more surplus food is left behind by stores and suppliers. Potluck is preparing to respond. 'We want to be there to take that surplus,' he said. 'Because at one point, the shelf life is done for the grocery store, but it's not done for human consumption. We take that and get it to the people who need it.' In 2024, Potluck Food Rescue brought in more than 1 million pounds of rescued food—enough to create over 800,000 meals. That effort saved partner organizations more than $2 million in food costs. 'Money they can use toward their programming, rather than food,' Wyman said. 'And just imagine what their food costs are now.' Arkansas nonprofit launches new app to combat food insecurity in the state Looking ahead, the team at Potluck knows the road won't be easy. 'We are small but mighty,' Wyman said with a determined smile. For more information or to support Potluck Food Rescue's mission, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legendary Spice will expand, adding three new Twin Cities locations
Legendary Spice is expanding its presence around the Twin Cities. The Sichuan restaurant, which currently has one location in Eden Prairie and two in Minneapolis, will add three new hubs and a new concept to its roster, it announced in a social media post celebrating its eighth anniversary. The restaurant says it plans to open in Rosedale Center's Potluck food hall, Woodbury, and Coon Rapids. All three will be a combination restaurant between Legendary Spice and Boba X. However, it hasn't shared details on when those locations will begin serving dumplings and scallion pancakes to diners. The Woodbury location will be situated at Tamarack Village, and the Coon Rapids outpost will be in the Riverdale Village, per a report from the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. The report also notes that the Woodbury and Rosedale Center locations are expected to open in April Representatives for Legendary Spice did not respond to a request for comment. The burgeoning Twin Cities chain will also open a Boba X Ramen in Dinkytown, a complement to the Legendary Spice location at 2501 University Ave. SE, just down the street from the heart of Dinkytown. In addition to its three Legendary Spice locations, the company currently operates a Boba X in the Mall of America.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Willie Nelson's 2025 Luck Reunion lineup features Chaparelle, Charley Crockett, more
This story has been updated to add photo gallery. Luck Presents just dropped the lineup for the 13th annual Luck Reunion festival, which will be retuning to Willie Nelson's ranch in Luck, Texas on March 13. The country music fest will feature over 40 acts, surprise special guests, artisan markets and culinary experiences with renowned chefs from across the nation. The 13th edition of Luck Reunion's music lineup will include Willie Nelson and Family, Shane Smith, Charley Crockett, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Taj Mahal. There will also be a tribute to Kris Kristofferson by Chaparelle and friends. 'We are beyond excited to welcome our Luck Family back home to Willie's backyard for another incredible year with this ever more important community' said Matt Bizer, CEO and Founder of Luck Presents. 'Community is the theme, and this year's event is something we are really proud of. We are welcoming back many long-time Luck Family members, some new artists we cannot stop listening to, and more than one surprise guest!' The festival also announced its chef lineup for their 2025 Potluck, an intimate family-style seated dinner benefitting the Luck Family Foundation and the Texas Food and Wine Alliance, taking place on March 12. Tickets to Luck Reunion are made available through their "Lucky Draw." Fans following the Luck Presents email list and social media will be given a three-day window to enter a random drawing for a chance to be selected to purchase a ticket. The fest also has flash sales and partner giveaways, which will also be announced through their online channels. Snagging a ticket may be a game of luck, but that's the name of the game. For more information, head to This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Willie Nelson's Luck Reunion 2025 lineup is out. How to get tickets.
