Clean Memphis’ Project Green Fork Program Surpasses 250K Pounds of Surplus Food Rescued with Careit’s Food Donation App

MEMPHIS, TN (August 19, 2025) – Clean Memphis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability across the Mid-South, and its program Project Green Fork today announced that it has reached a milestone of rescuing 250,000 pounds of surplus food since joining Careit, a national free food donation and rescue app that connects businesses with nonprofits. Through Careit, Project Green Fork has provided more than 200,000 meals to those in need thanks to 2,500 donations from local restaurants, grocers, hotels, universities, and event venues.

According to Feeding America, approximately 15.9% of Shelby County residents face food insecurity, a rate that is higher than the national average. This challenge is especially acute for families with limited incomes, children in under-resourced schools, and senior residents with little access to nutritious, affordable food.

While some local venues were already donating surplus food, efforts were often inconsistent and bogged down by the logistics of coordinating and tracking donations. To address this gap, Project Green Fork performed a landscape assessment of local nonprofits tackling food insecurity. The findings underscored the need for a centralized platform that could streamline donations and reliably track where food was going.

In August 2023, Clean Memphis selected Careit as its rescue software partner for its Project Green Fork surplus food donation program. This shift has helped staff spend less time on administration and data collection, providing significant cost savings and expanding access to a wider geographic area – helping more Memphians gain access to fresh, wholesome meals.

This achievement demonstrates the power of collaboration and innovation in addressing food waste and insecurity in Memphis. Every pound of food saved from the landfill and placed on a neighbor’s table represents a step toward sustainability and an opportunity to provide nourishment for our community. – Nefertiti Orrin, Clean Memphis President and CEO

Helping the Project Green Fork team and their partners feel confident in donation compliance through the food safety measures we have in place has been vital to the success of our partnership and increasing app users to donate surplus food. Collaborating with Clean Memphis to develop technology tools for Project Green Fork has elevated Careit’s ability to expand many other regional food donation programs. – Alyson Schill, Careit CEO and Co-founder

Looking ahead, Clean Memphis plans to continue the partnership with Careit to feed more Memphians in need. The organizations are also exploring new rescue pilot programs that would allow donations, even as small as a single meal, to be connected directly to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

With the expansion of Project Green Fork’s food rescue program and new features from Careit, our goal is to double the impact and rescue a total of 500,000 pounds of surplus food over the next two years. With our partners, we are working toward a future where good food doesn’t go to waste and every Memphian has access to nutritious meals. – Nefertiti Orrin, Clean Memphis President and CEO

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ABOUT CLEAN MEMPHIS

Clean Memphis is a nonprofit driving environmental sustainability through hands-on education, waste reduction initiatives, and collaborative partnerships that transform waste into resources. Since 2008, the organization has worked to inspire youth, engage leadership, and empower neighborhoods to adopt green practices. From zero-waste solutions to school programs and neighborhood projects, the efforts of Clean Memphis are paving the way for a thriving circular economy in Memphis. To learn more, visit cleanmemphis.org.

ABOUT CAREIT

Founded in 2021, Careit is a free app to match commercial food donors to the country’s most inclusive network of nonprofits. Businesses sign up to simplify food donations, track their impact and track tax-deductible contributions. Careit has assisted more than 10,000 edible food donors to connect with over 3,000 nonprofit food recovery organizations and service providers through its platform. To learn more, visit careit.com.