Fighting Hunger Differently
Chicago Food Rescue teaches us how we can show up easily + consistently for our communities
We always hear the phrase, “It takes a village.” But to have a strong village, you have to be willing to be a good villager to others in return.
To show up. To give back. And to not do it just because you expect something back. That’s how we’ll continue to help each other build the communities and businesses that shape our lives for the better.
One of the strongest villagers I know is Jake Tepperman. He decided to start Chicago Food Rescue a few years ago, taking his learnings from a food rescue organization he was apart of in Pittsburgh and applying it to the city he calls home.
Jake never questions whether the work he does will pay off. He just does it, day after day. He now has an expanding team and an ever-growing group of volunteers helping rescue and transport mostly fresh items of food across the city to those in need, reducing food waste in the process.
In 2025 alone, the CFR team has rescued 250,000 lbs of food for 208,000 meals over 1,100+ rescues. And all it takes is maybe 30 minutes to an hour of driving!
I’ve been inspired by Jake to join Columbus’s food rescue organization and have enjoyed the few trips I’ve done so far. I connect not only with the great restaurants and businesses donating fresh food, but also the folks on the other side who are grateful for a delicious meal. It makes me feel a different kind of connection with this still new-to-me city I now call home.
If you want to be a strong founder, friend, partner, villager partner, anything in this life, it takes showing up time and time again. Building trust and reliability with those around you. It’s the only way we can grow better together.
Thanks so much for being part of The Perfect Bite’s journey and supporting these founders’ stories. Feel free to respond to any of these messages with thoughts on how I can improve my storytelling in the future or if you have any guest ideas!
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