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Hands for Hunger (H4H) is proudly celebrating 10 years of service in the community, rescuing and delivering fresh surplus food to those in need.
Hands For Hunger was launched in 2008 by a small group of student leaders who envisioned a hunger-free Bahamas, where each person has access to three nutritious and fortifying meals each day. The group, led by Alanna Rodgers, mobilized food donors, made contact with community feeding centers, and the small team began food rescue and delivery efforts throughout New Providence.

With over 43,000 Bahamians facing chronic hunger on a daily basis, Hands For Hunger plays a critical role in providing more than 200,000 meals each year to those in need. The organization’s food rescue efforts are supported by 30-plus food donors. The Atlantis resort is the largest and longest standing food donor of H4H.

“The entire Hands for Hunger community has made significant contributions to eradicating hunger and food waste in The Bahamas. We are excited to be celebrating 10 years of service to our partners and the people that they serve. Our goal is to live in a country where everyone has access to three nutritious and fortifying meals each day. Ideally, ten years from now, we will be celebrating a very different milestone – where that goal becomes our reality,” said Zeleka Knowles, the executive director of the organization.
 
Over the past 10 years, Hands for Hunger has expanded beyond food rescue. The organization has taken the lead on tackling hunger by conducting research; lobbying for policy change; raising awareness; hosting panel discussions; contributing to hurricane relief efforts; supporting local farmers; partnering with corporations, and creating an active volunteer base of hunger fighters in the country.
 
“I’m proud that Hands for Hunger exists 10 years later,” said Alanna Rodgers, founder of Hands for Hunger. “I’m proud that what were once only ambitions, ideals and aspirations are now what has become essential work for our small nation.”
In addition to an upgraded truck, Hands for Hunger is set to increase efficiency with the use of a custom food rescue mobile application. Developed and donated by Bahamas Local, the mobile app will assist in scheduling pickups and drop-offs and transition to a paperless food tracking data collection process. This newest feature will help H4H strengthen the core operations of its food rescue program.
 
Future plans include putting more trucks on the road, developing newer initiatives, hiring more team members, a large pantry to store food, a kitchen to conduct meal demonstrations or a farm to educate the public about how to grow their own produce. H4H also aims to raise awareness on the issue of food security in The Bahamas.
At the kick-off event of the 10th Year Anniversary celebrations, Rodgers sent her regards from abroad reminding supporters of why the mission of H4H is so important.
“I’m proud of Hands For Hunger, but I also know how important the declaration we made ten years ago remains today: when the work of Hands for Hunger has truly been accomplished, the organization itself will no longer be needed; and I know with this declaration as a guide, we have much, much more work to do,” said Rodgers.