Seeing an increase in the number of people in need of food in the areas surrounding Allegheny County, 412 Food Rescue will kick off the creation of 724 Food Rescue at this year’s Farm Aid concert on Saturday at KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown.

Like 412 Food Rescue, 724 Food Rescue will “rescue” food that otherwise would be thrown away. The new organization will serve Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties, said Leah Lizarondo, CEO and co-founder of 412 Food Rescue.

Partnering with Farm Aid — the yearly event that brings attention to farmers and how food is grown — seemed like the perfect fit for the launch of 724 Food Rescue because the concert is being held in Washington County, she said.

“Farm Aid has always had a mission to minimize food waste,” she said.

The food left over from the catering provided to artists and crews at Farm Aid will be distributed at the Burgettstown Apartments in Washington County in partnership with American HealthCare Group, which provides supportive services for families and seniors in affordable housing communities.

“When we launched 412 Food Rescue, the housing authorities that we work with were a key partner in expanding the safety net for those in need,” said Erin Hart, founding board member of 412 Food Rescue and a director at American Healthcare Group.

“They’ve been able to end food emergency calls in the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. We’d like to see that replicated across the region,” Ms. Hart added.

The launch of 724 Food Rescue is taking place in September, which has been designated Hunger Action Month.

In addition to partnering with Farm Aid for the kickoff, 724 Food Rescue will work with Giant Eagle, which will provide the organization with leftover food from all of its stores in the 724 area code. 724 Rescue will also work with Aldo’s Foods of Aliquippa and Sysco Foods of Zelienople, Ms. Lizarondo said.

724 Food Rescue will focus on providing healthy foods, with about 60 percent of the food rescued and distributed consists of fruits and vegetables, she said.

“Produce is the most difficult thing to access when you are food insecure,” she noted.

The food will be distributed to nonprofits in the five-county area, which will then get it to those who need it.

The Washington County Food Bank is not affiliated with 724 Food Rescue, but Connie Burd, director of the food bank, said the population has a dire need for food. The food bank serves about 5,500 people each month through its 49 food pantries across the county.

“We probably have a population of about 28,000 that are food insecure in Washington County,” Ms. Burd said.

Last year, a total of 2.66 million pounds of food were distributed by the Washington County Food Bank.

724 Food Rescue is seeking volunteers. For information or to volunteer or donate: www.412foodrescue.org.

Deana Carpenter, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.

First Published: September 15, 2017, 4:00 a.m.