The extra food from a person's plate heads to a landfill and releases carbon dioxide.

A Pittsburgh-based organization, 412 Food Rescue, is trying to save that food from the landfill and get it to those who are food insecure.

“A lot of the food we throw out is still OK; it's still good to eat,” said Mel Cronin, regional expansion manager for 412 Food Rescue.

Cronin said the organization is expanding to incorporate Butler County and other surrounding counties into its network.

“We want to expand to the 724 area,” she said.

Volunteers for 412 Food Rescue need to download the phone application, which has an interactive map showing where food could be “rescued.”

Volunteers pick up food from grocery stores, fast- food restaurants and other businesses and take it directly to the county's food bank or one of its many pantries.

Cronin said the organization doesn't store any food.

“We don't have any warehouses, which is operationally a little bit different than the food banks,” she said.

Butler already receiving donations

The Butler County Food Bank has been receiving some donations from 412 Food Rescue, according to Janine Kennedy of the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources, which manages the food bank.

“Typically, they contact me usually once a week or once a month,” Kennedy said. “We take as much as we can from them.”

She said the food bank always has the right to refuse, but she has been surprised by the quality and types of products they have received.

“We've received some really cool things from them, like entire pallets of organic baby food or entire pallets of soup,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said 412 Food Rescue makes a big impact when it can bring fresh foods, ingredients and produce to those in need.

Food banks are required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to purchase nonperishable items.

Kennedy said fresh produce and ingredients that are rare for pantries could be where 412 Food Rescue could have the biggest impact. “The produce, I look at it. I open up boxes and think, 'Wow, this is beautiful-looking lettuce or beautiful-looking tomatoes,'” she said.

Timing an issue

Kennedy said she is excited to see 412 Food Rescue have an expanded role in the county, but she recognized that timing is already an issue when it comes to fresh foods, even at the food bank.

Food pantries in Butler County pick up food from the food bank in the first week of the month, but pantries might not hand out food for another week or two. During that time, fresh produce could spoil.

“As far as food pantries, it's kind of hit or miss,” she said. “Sometimes, the food cupboards will want to take it and sometimes they don't.”

Kennedy said it might help if 412 Food Rescue delivered fresh produce directly to the pantries when donations are available.

Cronin said that is one idea being considered.

She said when starting up in a new area, there are three key components — donors to give the food, partners to receive the food, and volunteers to move the food.

“All three of those need to be built at the same time,” Cronin said.

She said it is important for 412 Food Rescue to continue building relationships in Butler County to better serve those in need.

“I think word-of-mouth would be immensely helpful, so we can build those partnerships with donors and volunteers and organizations,” Cronin said. “That would be the most important piece.”

The following information has been gathered about this organization through interviews with sources and its website.Founded: 2015Based: PittsburghGoal: Eliminate food waste, feed the hungry and reduce emissions from landfillsTotal food rescued: 8,288,055 poundsTotal meals produced: 6,906,712Emissions: Saved 4,500,414 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphereApp: The 412 Food Rescue phone application is available on iPhone and Android phones.Contact: Mel Cronin, mel@412foodrescue.org