When Matt Jozwiak co-founded Rethink Food with chef Daniel Humm in 2017, he knew he wanted to make a difference in local communities. And that’s exactly what it does in the city that never sleeps.
Rethink Food is an official New York City Marathon charity partner for the third consecutive year. This iconic race, which features more than 52,000 runners, merges athletic achievement with community empowerment and nourishment.
This year, Rethink Food once again takes on a New York institution: converting marathon miles into meals for New Yorkers facing food insecurity, in line with its mission to successfully transform surplus food from generous restaurants and food purveyors into millions of meals for those in need.
The 2024 marathon features an unexpected team of runners: the staff of Eleven Madison Park, one of New York’s most acclaimed restaurants. The team aims to raise $50,000 — enough to provide 10,000 nutritious meals to local communities.
Humm said in a video on Rethink Food’s Instagram page: “I co-founded it with Matt Jozwiak who was working at that time at Eleven Madison Park and had this brilliant idea to use the language of food to go beyond the walls of the restaurants and really take care of the people, and I’m very proud of it. It has touched me very deeply.”
The partnership between Eleven Madison Park and Rethink Food dates back to the organization’s inception, with the restaurant serving as one of its first food donors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this relationship deepened significantly. Faced with mandated closures, Humm and his team transformed their kitchen into a commissary for Rethink Food, dedicating their skills to preparing meals for food-insecure New Yorkers.
Matt Jozwiak and Daniel Humm Go the Extra Mile
This experience profoundly impacted Eleven Madison Park’s trajectory. Upon reopening in 2021, the restaurant embraced an entirely plant-based menu, aligning with its commitment to more sustainable and equitable food systems. To date, it has provided over half a million meals to New Yorkers in need, with ongoing efforts including regular produce donations to Rethink Food.
Jozwiak’s Rethink Food has made remarkable strides since its founding. The organization has provided over 26 million meals to communities in need, allocated more than $111 million to support local restaurants and boost economic development, and repurposed over 2.5 million pounds of excess food for community meals.
These figures magnify the magnitude of the problem and the solution Matt Jozwiak and his team have devised. Providing culturally relevant, nourishing community meals remains a pressing issue in New York City, with more than a million residents struggling to afford food, according to the Food Bank for New York City. Simultaneously, New York City reportedly generates about 3.9 million tons of food waste annually.
Rethink Food’s approach addresses both issues simultaneously. By redirecting surplus food from restaurants and converting it into meals, the organization reduces waste while providing nutritious, quality fare to locals. This model proved particularly crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic when restaurant closures coincided with rising food demands.
Running for Sustainable Food Solutions
The NYC Marathon partnership amplifies Rethink Food’s impact. Marathon participants running for the organization raise funds and awareness about feeding the community and sticking with sustainable solutions. This year’s team from Eleven Madison Park exemplifies how different sectors can unite for a common cause.
The involvement of high-profile chefs and restaurants in addressing food issues represents a significant shift in the culinary world. It reflects a growing recognition of the role that food professionals can play in addressing broader societal issues.
Matt Jozwiak’s journey to co-founding Rethink Food was shaped by his own experiences in the culinary world. Having worked in some of New York’s top kitchens, including Eleven Madison Park, he witnessed firsthand the volume of high-quality food that often went to waste. This observation, coupled with his understanding of widespread food concerns, sparked the idea for Rethink Food.
Jozwiak and his team are focused on expanding their reach and refining their model. The ongoing partnership with the NYC Marathon serves as both a fundraising opportunity and a platform to engage more people in their mission.
“Join us on this journey, and together, let’s turn every mile into a step toward a more equitable, sustainable food future,” Rethink Food shared on Instagram.