This past Saturday, April 12, 2025, we marked a huge milestone – 412 Food Rescue’s 10-year anniversary – with an epic celebration at Velum Fermentation in Pittsburgh’s South Side. And what better way to celebrate a decade of fighting food waste and hunger than with our community by our side?
The 412 Day Block Party was everything we hoped for: joyful, welcoming, and full of energy. From food trucks like Cold Friends Kitchen and 412 Tacos, to free scoops from Millie’s Ice Cream, every bite told a story of delicious, local flavor. And the limited-edition Tomato Tomata Michelada beer – brewed with rescued tomatoes- was an instant classic and a perfect toast to our mission.
With over 40 local vendors, the event was a showcase of creativity and community spirit. Guests got flash tattoos, poured their own candles, had their fortunes told, and took home one-of-a-kind finds – all while celebrating a decade of impact through food rescue and community.
Emcee Natalie Bencivenga welcomed hundreds of attendees from across the region. Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey stopped by to proclaim April 12 officially “412 Day” in the city. State Rep Jessica Burnham shared a proclamation from WORDS. And Allegheny County Executive and long-time friend of the org, Sara Innamorato, came through to share her congratulations. 412 Food Rescue CEO Alyssa Cholodofsky shared appreciation for everyone who makes our work possible – from our staff and volunteers, to our donors, supporters, board members, and nonprofit partners.
The fun didn’t stop there. Arcade Comedy Theater brought the laughs with a crowd-driven improv performance, and a mascot meetup featuring Rooty the Carrot and other Pittsburgh legends (like Smiley, Sauerkraut Saul, Frankie the Fish and Lil Tot) brought high-fives and photo ops galore. Our food rescue trivia game gave guests a chance to flex their knowledge and win great prizes donated by our generous vendors.
Paints by Kait created a gorgeous Pittsburgh skyline during the event – and it can be yours! Place your bids here until April 30, 2025. Own a special piece of Pittsburgh history while supporting our cause!
Since 2015, we’ve completed over 167,000 food rescues, diverted 25 million pounds of perfectly good food from landfills, and mobilized more than 24,000 incredible volunteers. This day wasn’t just a celebration – it was a reminder of what’s possible when we act together.
A huge thanks to Duolingo & Global Tax Management for sponsoring this event! Your contributions helped make this day such a big success.
Thank you to everyone who came out, supported, volunteered, donated, and celebrated with us. Whether you’ve been with us since day one or just learned what a food rescue is, we’re so glad you’re here.
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