Haven's Harvest

Mission

Our mission is to build community and reduce food waste, one food rescue at a time. Recovered food is a valuable community resource that should be shared, not wasted. Through a strong network of partners and volunteers, we redistribute high-quality surplus food to those who need it, ensuring it serves its purpose rather than ending up in landfills. By working together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable food system for all.

Needs Statement

Haven’s Harvest is a grassroots environmental nonprofit dedicated to the careful and mindful use of resources. To expand our impact and ensure food is recovered and redistributed as efficiently as possible, our two critical needs are increasing staff capacity and establishing a recovered food hub. A Partner Engagement Coordinator will strengthen relationships with food donors, recipient organizations, and community partners, ensuring more seamless collaboration and increasing the impact of our food recovery efforts. Establishing a recovered food hub will allow us to aggregate and distribute food more effectively, ensuring it reaches sites with specific needs. The hub will also support the expansion of sustainable revenue streams through our casual catering, cost-sharing, and corporate social responsibility programs, strengthening our long-term impact. By addressing these needs, we can significantly increase our efficiency, deepen community partnerships, and ensure that good food is never wasted.

Impact Statement

Haven’s Harvest is an environmental nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing food waste and strengthening community food access. In 2024, with the support of food donors, volunteer drivers, and nonprofit partners, we recovered and redistributed more than 1.87 million pounds of food—the equivalent of 1,558,000 meals shared and 1,016,850 pounds of CO₂ prevented from entering the atmosphere. Our network continues to grow, now including over 400 volunteers, more than 400 nonprofit partners, and over 150 food donors. The reduced retail value of the food recovered and redistributed in 2024 is $10,079,300, keeping high-quality food within the food system and benefiting our communities. Since January 2019, we have recovered over 9 million pounds of food, valued at over $43 million at reduced retail rates, and redistributed it throughout the Greater New Haven area. In 2025, our focus is on establishing a food recovery hub to increase efficiency, expand partnerships, and enhance our ability to redistribute surplus food where it is needed most. We also continue to advocate for policies that position food recovery as a critical strategy for reducing food waste and promoting sustainability. Through collaboration and innovation, we are building a more resilient and just food system—where good food is never wasted.

CEO statement

Food recovery is a critical strategy in addressing climate change and strengthening community resilience. By creating a strong network of food sharing, we ensure that high-quality food serves its purpose—feeding people, not landfills or incinerators. At Haven’s Harvest, food recovery is hands-on and relationship-centered. We actively scan our communities for excess food—especially perishable and prepared foods—and work with dynamic partners to ensure that this delicious, nutritious food is put to good use. The beauty of this work is that food doesn’t need to travel far to make a meaningful difference. What inspires me most is the dedication of the people involved. Our partners—food donors, nonprofit organizations, and volunteers—are intrepid, caring, and committed to making an impact. Their passion fuels our mission. In every way, food recovery is uplifting work. This work can never be automated or decentralized. It is inherently local, human, and personal. Sometimes, it’s fast-paced, with urgent needs that require immediate response. Other times, it’s steady, reliable, and familiar. But always, food recovery is about connection—connections that make us stronger, more resilient, and more fulfilled as a community.

Board Chair Statement

At Haven’s Harvest, we believe that food is a resource that should be valued, shared, and stewarded with care. Every day, our organization transforms surplus food into an opportunity—an opportunity to nourish people, strengthen partnerships, and build a more resilient and sustainable community. As Board Chair, I am continually inspired by the dedication of our volunteers, food donors, nonprofit partners, and staff. Their commitment to food recovery is not just about reducing waste; it’s about creating a more just and connected food system—one where good food feeds people, not landfills or incinerators. Haven’s Harvest has grown tremendously, increasing the scale and impact of our work while staying rooted in strong relationships and community-driven action. As we look ahead, we are focused on expanding our capacity, establishing a food recovery hub, and ensuring that our mission remains at the forefront of sustainability and food justice efforts. I am honored to serve alongside such an incredible team and to be part of an organization that is proving, every day, that food recovery is a powerful tool for change. Thank you for your support and partnership in this essential work. Caleb MartinMooney

Areas Served Narrative

Greater New Haven area, The Valley and New London

CEO statement (optional)

At Haven’s Harvest, our financial statements reflect not only our cash revenue and expenses but also the significant non-cash contributions that make our work possible. We’ve included in-kind donations of food and pro bono volunteer services to provide a full picture of the logistical effort and impact behind our operations—something that cash figures alone cannot capture. In 2024, our volunteer drivers completed 13,704 food recovery runs, each valued at $35, contributing immense logistical support to our mission. Additionally, a part-time pro bono dispatcher played a crucial role in coordinating these efforts. By incorporating these non-cash contributions into our financial overview, we aim to illustrate the true scale of resources required to recover 1,870,000 pounds of food and distribute it to those in need. This approach offers a more comprehensive understanding of our work, highlighting both the financial investments and the invaluable volunteer-driven efforts that sustain Haven’s Harvest.