About Us
About Us
Food is Love
Welcome to Food is Love, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Alton, Illinois. Since our founding in 2021, we have dedicated ourselves to connecting and blessing people through great food. Our mission is to educate, empower, and restore both food and people by providing innovative programs in food access, mobile culinary training, and promoting greater community connection. Through initiatives like our Currency of Caring “Feed it Forward” tokenized giving, food truck apprentice program, and “Food is Love…Love your Food” Food as Medicine efforts, we equip individuals with the skills and opportunities to build sustainable careers in hospitality while fighting food insecurity and improving food access and sustainability in our community.
Services
Feed It Forward (Currency of Caring) Program
Product/Service: A tokenized giving system where individuals can purchase tokens to provide meals for those in need. Audience: Food-insecure individuals, community supporters, donors. Purpose: Offers a scalable and impactful way for the community to help feed those facing food insecurity while fostering a sense of communal responsibility.
Food Truck Apprenticeship Program
Product/Service: A Department of Labor-certified apprenticeship program that trains participants in the operation of food trucks and mobile kitchens. Audience: Aspiring culinary professionals, at-risk youth. Purpose: Offers real-world experience and training in the growing mobile food industry, opening employment opportunities.
Culinary Training Program
Rescued Food Program (Plates with a Purpose)
Product/Service: A program that rescues surplus food from local businesses and transforms it into meals for the community. Audience: Food-insecure individuals, local businesses, nonprofit partners. Purpose: Combats food waste while providing nutritious meals to those in need, aligning with 4 sustainability and community service values.
Mobile Food Distribution and Community Meals
Product/Service: Mobile food trucks or trailers that distribute free meals to communities in need. Audience: Food-insecure individuals, community contributors, donors. Purpose: Ensures that nutritious meals are accessible to everyone, regardless of location, by bringing food directly to underserved communities.
Social Enterprise Catering and Food Truck Operations
Product/Service: Catering services and food truck operations that generate revenue to sustain the organization’s programs. Audience: Local businesses, event organizers, individuals looking for catering or food truck services. Purpose: Provides a self-sustaining revenue model for Food is Love, while also offering employment opportunities to culinary program graduates and participants.
Community Cooking Classes and Meal Prep Workshops
Product/Service: Classes and workshops that teach participants how to prepare nutritious meals on a budget using fresh produce and rescued food. Audience: Community members, food-insecure individuals, aspiring culinary professionals. Purpose: Empowers individuals with the knowledge and skills to improve their nutrition, reduce food waste, and enhance food security within their households.
Volunteer Engagement and Donation Programs
Product/Service: Opportunities for community members to volunteer their time or donate food, money, or expertise to support Food is Love’s initiatives. Audience: Volunteers, donors, philanthropists, community supporters. Purpose: Encourages widespread community involvement, increasing the organization’s impact and fostering a culture of shared responsibility.
Local Partnerships with Businesses and Nonprofits
Product/Service: Collaborative programs and initiatives with local businesses, restaurants, and nonprofits to create sustainable food systems and job opportunities. Audience: Business supporters, nonprofit partners, government agencies. Purpose: Builds a network of support to enhance food access, training, and community empowerment efforts.
