Hunger doesn’t wait—and neither can we.
Founded in 2019 by former refugee Thai Nguyen, Kaizen Food Rescue exists to ensure families across the Denver metro area have consistent access to fresh, nutritious food. Through emergency food distribution and surplus food rescue, we show up where the system falls short.
In just one month, we reached 4,822 families, delivering 120,568 meals worth $578,728 in food. The need continues to grow—and so must our response.
Your donation today directly feeds families tomorrow. Give now and help us meet this moment with compassion and action.
Ten years ago, Nancy came to Denver with her family to treat her son Angel's cerebral palsy. She lived in a shelter when she first arrived and she did not speak English. She has relied on her son, Armando, to communicate. When Nancy had time away from caring for her family, she made a living by becoming a driver. Her husband worked too.
Nancy knew about our organization through a community navigator, who helped them put food on the table. Their family could get by this way even with the expensive therapy her son needed. However, the pandemic changed all of this. Both Nancy and her husband got sick with COVID-19 and Nancy's husband was hospitalized for 3 weeks.
When her husband was in the ICU Nancy did not know how she was going to pay rent. She did not know how she was going to feed her children and sustain Angel's therapy. Nancy says that she does not know how she would have done it without Kaizen. She reached out to our community navigator to help sustain her family through her husband's hospitalization. And she did. Our organization helped them not have to make the choice between food and therapy for her child. We brought them food when they could not leave their house.
Her husband is still recovering from COVID-19 and cannot work, but she knows that she can put food on the table because of Kaizen Food Rescue. Today she volunteers with us to give to others what she was given in her time of need.
"Thank you so much! Because of you, I don't have to donate blood this week."
-Anonymous
"I am just so grateful to you all. I can now afford my medication."
-Latinx Elder
"With my [SNAP] benefits reduced, I resorted to eating canned cat food. God bless you! Thank you so so much for your help!" - Vietnamese Elder
To advance food justice and community well-being in areas impacted by food apartheid in the Denver Metro area.
Our Vision:
We envision a future where communities are just, thriving, empowered, interconnected, and creating prosperity through inclusive food systems and civic engagement.
Who We Serve:
Kaizen Food Rescue is committed to supporting individuals and families across the Denver metro area who experience food insecurity, including:
- Veterans navigating housing instability
- Individuals and families building new beginnings in our community
- Workers and families striving to make ends meet
- Anyone seeking access to nourishing food and the opportunity to participate in a fair and sustainable food system
Our Impact:
Kaizen has redistributed over 18 million pounds of food to more than 400,000 households. By ensuring access to fresh, nutritious food, we empower individuals and families, improve health outcomes, and strengthen our communities. We believe that food is a fundamental human right and a foundation for dignity, opportunity, and collective well-being.
Organization name
Kaizen Food Rescue
other names
Kaizen Food Share
2019
Tax id (EIN)
83-4107744
Category
Food, Agriculture & Nutrition
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
2900 s shoshone stArapahoe County, CO, US