"It's really amazing when you see how much food gets thrown away," said Raymond Chavez. "We're talking tons of food."
Raymond Chavez and Erica Dixon started the group "Helping Hearts" to reduce waste and help those less fortunate.
Eyewitness News first told you about them last June. They were collecting food from just one restaurant and delivering to several shelters in Orange County.
Six months ago the couple was collecting about 500 pounds of donated food a week. Since our story aired, that number has ballooned to more than 10 tons of food a week.
"Things have really, really spiraled since you guys did your story," said Chavez.
More than a dozen businesses now donate food, including Albertsons.
They're now able to feed a few thousand people each week in Orange County, up from a few hundred.
"It's a big help in a lot of ways, especially living here," said Laura, receiving a food donation.
Their acts of kindness inspiring others.
"So many of these people are giving back to the community in the same way," said Erica Dixon.
More than 100 people now volunteer.
"They have a huge heart for people and they're doing all of this out of the goodness of their hearts," said volunteer Dean White.
The two say they gave up their jobs and are living off loans. Helping Hearts is still not large enough to pull a salary.
"We're just kind of going on faith that we can hold out long enough," said Dixon.
Keeping faith, answering what they say is their calling: helping people, making a difference one heart at a time.
