Second Servings is Houston’s only prepared and perishable food rescue organization. This fast-growing nonprofit picks up unsold and unserved food from over 400 food businesses, and delivers it the same day in refrigerated vans, for free, to 96 local charities. This perfectly edible surplus food, including fresh produce, dairy products, meat, sandwiches, chef-prepared meals and much more helps nourish Houston’s most vulnerable populations—abused women and children, veterans, disabled homeless seniors, low-income families, and many others. Since beginning operations in 2015, Second Servings has delivered more than 7 million pounds of food, valued at $52 million, to 175,000 needy Houstonians annually. "Rescuing" food not only helps feed people in need, but it also prevents food from going to the landfill to decompose and emit potent methane gas, which is a significant contributor to climate change. With nearly 40% of the available food supply ordinarily going to waste, while 20% of Houstonians struggle to have enough to eat, food rescue makes a lot of sense. It is a practical, efficient and essential approach to both pressing issues.