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Opportunity Details
Bike for Good Food Rescue at Old Town Farmers' Market
Bike for Good: Food Rescue Using Bicycles at Old Town Farmers’ Market
The goal for this program is to redistribute donated fresh, locally grown food (primarily fruit and vegetables) from the Alexandria Old Town Farmer’s Market on the last Saturday of the month using bicycles to pantries that serve hungry, homeless, and at-risk residents in Alexandria. The program will help to:
- Increase access to locally grown and healthy food to low-income residents in the City;
- Reduce food waste to Alexandria landfills;
- Transport food with minimal environmental impact, reduce traffic and CO2 emissions
- Increase awareness of bicycling as a viable mode of transportation; and
- Be a catalyst for positive change in the community.
The Old Town Farmers' Market is looking for dedicated and experienced bicyclist volunteers who are willing to distribute the fresh produce to food pantries and shelters in the Alexandria area once per month (last Saturday of the month) from May through October 2017.
Summary of food rescue process:
- Volunteers ride their bicycles to the farmers’ market and meet at the market information booth on the last Saturday of the month at 12:00 pm.
- Volunteers must wear their own helmet, be capable of lifting 25 pounds, and wear closed toe shoes for safety purposes.
- Volunteers must be 21 years or older and experienced bicycle riders.
- Attend a short safety and volunteer orientation.
- Attach the cargo trailer to your bike. Load two crates onto the cargo trailer.
- Ride with the bike captain to the dropoff location; There will be a representative to direct the drop off.
- Load the empty crates back onto the trailers and ride back to the farmers’ market; return the crates and disengage the cargo trailer.
- All volunteers will wear orange safety vests (provided by the City), helmets (their own, mandatory), and ride their own bikes that are in good condition.
- Please check out the Smart Cycling Tips and Rules of the Road on the League of American Bicyclists' website. And take the time to watch the Smart Cycling Videos.
Who to contact if you’re interested in volunteering:
Please contact Sara Rhoades/City of Alexandria EBT/Gleaning Coordinator at bikeforgood@alexandriava.gov.
2014 OTFM Food Rescue Statistics
- 17 market farmers participated
- Rescued 6,487 pounds of food in 6 months were rescued
- Value of food rescued was $10,963 ($1.69/pound of donated food)
- Served two food pantries, a low income senior housing facility, and a homeless shelter in Alexandria, VA
Hunger & Homelessness, Environment
Families, Homeless, Immigrants, Refugees or Ethnic Groups, Low-income communities, People with Disabilities, People with Health-based Concerns
Sports & Recreation,Other
Age Minimum (with Adult): 21+, Minimum Age:21+
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- Choose an existing team you're already a member or captain of, or
- Create a new team to sign up.
Signup Questions
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