Substitute teacher launches mission to donate leftover school food

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - A Las Vegas substitute teacher launches a mission to donate leftover school food for the less-fortunate, fulfilling a mission to end food security across Las Vegas and also lessen food waste in landfills.

The Should Project was created by substitute teacher Andrew Plotkin, who was motivated my his mother’s acts of service to help people at a food kitchen.

“At some schools, the breakfast that was being offered to the students, not a lot of it was being taken and eaten, and then that food would just get thrown out at the end of the day,” Plotkin said.

He sought the help of a state lawmaker and state agencies to research the rules on donating leftover food from public schools. He found, not only does state law explicitly state policies to prevent food waste through the Childhood Nutrition Division, but the USDA also provides guidelines through the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.

“3.1 million tons of food could be saved if there were a refrigerator in every school. I’d love to have a refrigerator at every of the over 300 schools in the Clark County School District,” he said.

Plotkin has partnered with the Young Women’s Leadership Academy to help store leftover food in a fridge for volunteers to pick up and then drop off to community partners.

“This one refrigerator saves about one ton of food every month on average,” he said.

The mission is educational for students on ways to reduce food waste, and how people can serve their community through outreach.

“The students being aware of where their food is going is great, because that makes them want to get involved more,” Plotkin said.

Plotkin hopes to recruit students and more schools in the effort.

For more information or ways to donate or volunteer, click here: The Should Project or the Instagram account TheShouldProject_

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