Hunger Relief
According to the USDA, over 47 million people in the United States, including more than 7 million children, are food insecure. At the same time, roughly one-third of food is wasted.
As part of our promises to give more than we take from the planet and contribute positively to the communities we serve, we are on a mission to divert food from waste streams and help alleviate hunger in the communities we serve.
According to the USDA, over 47 million people in the United States, including more than 7 million children, are food insecure. At the same time, roughly one-third of food is wasted.
Our hunger relief strategies are aimed at reducing the amount of food that goes to waste, donating nutritious unsold food, investing in food rescue infrastructure globally, and supporting long term improvements in food security in areas connected to our value chain.
Buy a Box, We’ll Give Back
As an extension of Starbucks long record on hunger relief action, this holiday season, Starbucks is inviting customers to join in giving back to donate an estimated 3.5M meals. From November 19, 2024 – January 2, 2025, for each protein box purchase at participating Starbucks stores, Starbucks will give a meal* to Feeding America to support hunger relief in your community.
$81.5 m
Invested in hunger relief
63 M+
Meals donated through FoodShare (1.2 pounds of food is equivalent to one meal)
75 m
Pounds of food diverted from waste streams
143 m
Pounds of CO2 equivalent diverted from waste streams
Our Food Donation Journey
In 2016, Starbucks partners (employees) advocated for a program that would allow stores to donate unsold food to people facing hunger in communities across the U.S.
Today, Starbucks FoodShare is a pinnacle food rescue program with a national effort across 100% of our company-operated stores. In partnership with Feeding America® and other hunger-relief organizations, our stores provide nourishing, ready-to-eat meals to people in need and divert surplus food from landfills.
At the end of each day, Starbucks partners collect leftover food to donate. Through our third-party logistics backhaul model, we employ delivery drivers with refrigerated trucks to pick up the donations and transport them to a nearby distribution center. From there, donations are sorted and delivered to regional food banks and local food pantries.
Starbucks receives a U.S. federal tax benefit for every pound of food donated, and we are committed to reinvesting 100% of the benefit back into our food waste reduction and hunger relief efforts. These funds cover the costs of food rescue logistics and investments into food banks and other hunger relief initiatives.
A core component of our FoodShare program is our Capacity Building Grants for FoodShare-partnered hunger relief organizations. We pair our in-kind food donations with financial investment in food bank operations to empower greater capacity and food distribution. To date, we have provided over $6.7M in Capacity Building Grants to more than 300 food banks and local nonprofit organizations to support food distribution efforts.
Starbucks made a commitment to reinvest $100M into hunger relief by 2030.
Since 2016, Starbucks has invested more than $81.5 million into hunger relief efforts in the U.S., and has diverted over 75 million pounds of food from waste streams – which is equivalent to nearly 63 million meals.**
Starbucks support for Hunger Relief in action
FoodShare Capacity Building Grants
Recognizing the role that the nonprofit community plays in hunger relief, Starbucks provides FoodShare Capacity Building Grants to regional food banks and local food pantries to support food distribution efforts. In 2024, Starbucks granted an additional $4.2M in grants to nearly 300 local food banks and food pantries. Bringing their total investment to more than $6.7M.
$6.7 M
Total investment in grants.
Food Bank Spotlight
The Los Angeles Regional Food Banks has been a FoodShare Capacity Building Grants recipient since FY21. As a recipient, they have been able to assist FoodShare agencies by funding the purchase of much-needed equipment, such as refrigerators, freezers, pallet jacks, carts and shelving units.
By having the means to invest in these essential equipment, agencies were able to improve their ability to store, transport, distribute and serve food safely to their local communities.
Childhood Nutrition Grants
In 2022, Starbucks made a $1M investment to No Kid Hungry to help kids get the food they need to thrive. These grants supported meal programs provided by schools and community-based organizations.
$1 M
Investment to No Kid Hungry
Equitable Food Access Grants
In 2021, Starbucks made a commitment to provide Equitable Food Access Grants to 16 food banks through Feeding America. The grants helped food banks provide nutritious food to households from historically under-resourced communities experiencing high rates of food insecurity.
As a result of the grant, the food banks have distributed nearly 13 million pounds of food, served more than 1.6 million individuals, including more than 430,000 children and elevated community voices by engaging nearly 15,000 neighbors and 550+ community agencies.
Mobile Pantry Grants
In 2019, Starbucks invested $1.5 million in mobile pantry programs for 17 food banks around the country, allowing existing mobile pantries to increase deliveries and other food banks to establish mobile pantry trucks. To date, $2.69 million has been invested in food bank mobile pantry programs.
$2.69 M
Invested in food bank mobile pantry
Establish your own donation program
Starbucks is an industry leader in sustainable food rescue, leveraging a backhaul logistics model to rescue and donate our own food that is available at 100% of our US company-owned stores. Download our guide to learn more about establishing a sustainable food donation program for your business.
* At participating Starbucks stores within the U.S. from 11/19/24 to 1/2/25, for each protein box sold, Starbucks will donate the monetary equivalent of one meal to Feeding America®. $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local partner food banks.
**According to the USDA, 1.2 pounds of food is equivalent to one meal