Every day in Pittsburgh, 40% of edible food ends up in landfills—while 1 in 8 of our neighbors struggles with hunger. At 412 Food Rescue, we believe your legacy can change that story.
Last year alone, we rescued over 7 million pounds of food—providing nearly 6 million meals to families in our region. And we don’t do it alone. With the help of volunteers using our Food Rescue Hero app, we bridge the gap between excess and access—delivering healthy food to the people who need it most.
By including 412 Food Rescue in your will, you ensure that this impact doesn’t stop with you. Your gift will fuel:
- Nutrition security: The majority of food we rescue—about 85%—is fresh food like fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and bread. Your gift ensures that more people have consistent access to nutritious food where they live, work, learn, and play.
- Environmental sustainability: Food waste in landfills is the #1 source of methane emissions, a harmful greenhouse gas. By rescuing food before it’s thrown away, we mitigate climate change and reduce the need to recreate the energy and resources already invested in food production.
- A people-powered solution: Our innovative model, powered by the Food Rescue Hero app, mobilizes thousands of local volunteers who complete food rescues—transporting surplus food from retailers to nonprofit partners who serve our neighbors.
Why Making a Will Matters
Many people delay writing a will, assuming it’s complicated or unnecessary. While it may feel easy to postpone, creating or updating your will is a deeply personal act of care and intention. It’s also one of the most meaningful ways you can continue to make a difference in the lives of others and your local community. Here’s why it’s an important step:
- You stay in control: A will ensures that your personal wishes—not the courts—determine how your assets are distributed.
- You protect the people you love: Clear instructions can ease emotional and financial burdens during a difficult time.
- You support your community: You can leave a charitable gift to organizations like 412 Food Rescue, helping build the kind of world you want future generations to live in.
“I’ve supported 412 Food Rescue for ten years—through yearly donations and as a weekly volunteer for more than eight of them. This mission is deeply personal to me. One story that stays with me happened at a ceremony about five years ago: a speaker from the Pittsburgh Housing Authority shared that they used to keep a reserve fund to help tenants who ran out of food and money. After 412 Food Rescue began serving their buildings, those emergency calls stopped. They no longer needed the fund—so they donated it to 412 Food Rescue instead. That moment showed me just how powerful this work is. That’s why, when I updated my will, I chose to include 412 Food Rescue as one of my beneficiaries. It’s a way to ensure the impact continues for years to come.”
— Steve C., Legacy Supporter
Plan With Purpose
By including 412 Food Rescue in your estate plans, you’re not just making a gift—you’re helping build a world where barrier-free access to nutritious food, climate resilience, and community-driven solutions are possible. Furthermore, your legacy gift will inspire others to follow in your footsteps. By choosing to give, you join a growing community of changemakers committed to building a more sustainable future while encouraging others to think about their values and the impact they want to leave behind.
This Make a Will Month, you can take 15 minutes to make a decision that lasts generations. Even a small step today creates a ripple of impact tomorrow.
- Start simple: Use an online will-making tool to begin your plan.
- Make it meaningful: A 1% bequest from a $200,000 estate provides 6,000 meals for families in need.
- Talk to us: Contact Jen Ivy (jenivy@412foodrescue.org) to explore how your legacy gift can reflect your values.
Support the work of 412 Food Rescue
Download the app to start volunteering:
Make a financial donation:
