412 Food Rescue’s new CEO brings decades of nonprofit experience to the tech-forward social org

Between 30% to 40% of the food supply in the United States goes to waste, according to the FDA. At the same time, the USDA reports that food insecurity among US households rises, with millions of homes nationwide struggling to put meals on the table. 

412 Food Rescue, which aims to bridge the divide between waste and supply, last week announced its newest CEO, Alyssa Cholodofsky. It’s the combination of human interaction and powerful tech that drew her to the role.

“What really attracted me to this organization,” Cholodofsky said, “is the way the environmental impact and the impact on people and food insecurity meshes with technology.” 

The Food Rescue Hero app connects volunteers across 37 counties with opportunities to save surplus goods from going in the trash. The technology, in partnership with community organizers, volunteers and the nonprofit, connects people to meals that would otherwise go to waste. The tech behind the app could theoretically launch anywhere and is built to scale, but its longstanding success in new cities hinges on nonprofit connections and community buy-in, according to the organization.

Since its founding in 2015, the nonprofit has grown the Food Rescue Hero app beyond Pittsburgh into over 25 cities, with a goal to reach 100 cities by 2030. 

While the app can drive the experience and guide participants through the process of a food rescue, it needs a community of volunteers to work successfully. 

The experience is a “win-win-win,” Cholodofsky said. It keeps perfectly fine but unsellable goods from the landfills, brings it to those who need them the most and gives volunteers a chance to create a deeper connection with their communities.   

Grassroots connections powering an online platform

Cholodofsky takes over for 412 Food Rescue interim CEO Karin Sabey, who had been running the org since founder Leah Lizarondo stepped down in 2023. 

While Cholodofsky doesn’t come from tech, her background at the United Way and Family Services of Western Pennsylvania made her a solid candidate for the CEO role. 

She first encountered 412 Food Rescue while working at the United Way, and even volunteered with the organization, using the app to redistribute food. 

Her skills in expanding grassroots community connections will be essential for 412 Food Rescue as its tech expands. 

“It really was kind of a sweet spot,” Cholodofsky said, “for all of my interests and work I’ve done in the community around Pittsburgh.”