CLEVELAND — Rescue is something that Giovanna Mingrone lives for. She serves through food. It’s her way of making the world better. Her hunger to help grows with every delivery.
"We've got a lot of mouths to feed,” said Mingrone.
She gathers, and stacks loads of food to fill strangers' plates.
"If we were not here, that food would have ended up in the dumpster," said Mingrone.
The way she sees it: one person's scraps are another's meal.
"It seemed to be a no-brainer to connect the two things," said Mingrone.
Mingrone pulls from restaurants, grocery stores, even vendors. She stuffs the offerings, floor to ceiling, door-to-door, in her ride and starts sharing, seeking out food deserts. Mingrone usually finds people through word of mouth.
Mingrone started the non-profit Stone Soup Cle back in 2015. In just a few months’ time, she rescued 7,000 pounds of fruits and veggies, and she didn't stop there.
"Today, we are averaging about 62,000 pounds a year,” Mingrone.
And still, it never feels like enough. That's why Mingrone, a culinary arts instructor at Cuyahoga Community College, is always serving someone.
"We call it overages,” said Mingrone. "Be aware of what you buy before you buy it."
Every day, she sees how much folks waste.
