This week’s Peace Fund Radio Hero of the Week is 17-year-old Kiran Sridhar, a winner of the 2014 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. In 2010, at the age of 12, Kiran founded Waste No Food. 

Waste No Food is a registered nonprofit that provides a web-based "marketplace" allowing excess food to be donated from the food service industry to qualified charities that work with the needy. One-third of all food is wasted, from farms, restaurants and grocery stores. Yet there has been no efficient way for groups that have excess food to donate to the millions of hungry Californians and Americans. Waste No Food is that medium. Donors who wish to donate their excess food can sign up and post excess food as it becomes available. Qualified charities in the vicinity of the donors who have been vetted by Waste No Food, can claim the food.

“Every day in the United States, the amount of food wasted could fill the Rose Bowl stadium,” explains Kiran. “I find it unconscionable that people are going to bed hungry.” Kiran sees the larger spiral of impact that food insecurity has on individuals and society as a whole. “People who can’t guarantee three meals a day can’t benefit their family, the economy, or society. When so many people can’t guarantee meals, it’s a real societal problem.” On the other hand, he says, “by guaranteeing people food, we can create a real social equalizer.” 

Kiran joins us today to tell us about the unique way his organization connects charities to food, and the food to those who need it.