Kum & Go donating excess food to Care and Share

A local gas station is working to cut back on wasting food by donating excess products to families in need.

Kum & Go off Research Parkway opened its first "Marketplace" shop in Colorado Springs.

Manager of Sustainability for Kum & Go Derek Nelson says every one of their locations have healthy and fresh "on-the-go" options, but this store is the first to have made-to-order food.

Nelson says the company is trying to focus on sustainability and fresher food options.

"We understand the consumer has changed and we want to offer something for everyone. Convenience is important but also that healthier fresh concept -- that's also something that is very important to a lot of consumers today," Nelson said.

As a part of this new marketplace, Kum & Go has teamed up with Care and Share to start a food rescue program.

The company tells 11 News they've always tried to donate packaged and frozen products to our local food banks but now they will be able to donate about 50 fresh sandwiches a day -- 50 sandwiches that would otherwise be thrown out.

Chief Development Officer with Care and Share Food Bank Shannon Brice says donations like these are so critical for the community.

"Having relationships with Kum & Go, thinking outside the box on how we can get this great food into our neighbors in need's hands is certainly the direction we need to go," she said.

Brice tells 11 News this is a big issue here in Southern Colorado; one in six people struggle with hunger.

The extra food from Kum & Go will go to Tri Lakes Cares, the closest Care and Share food bank to this Kum & Go.

"Last year in our area that Care and Share serves there are 161,000 people that are in need, and last year we were able to reach 134,000 of those neighbors," said Brice.

To kick off the rescue food program Kum & Go is hosting a food drive. The bins will be out at Kum & Go on Research Parkway until 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Care and Share is looking for items like canned fruit and vegetables, soup, cereal, peanut butter and oatmeal.

Kum & Go tells 11 News this is just a pilot program for this store, but they hope to have the food rescue program in all 14 Kum & Go stores across Colorado Springs.