Summer of 2026 Research

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This summer, in hopes of better understanding food waste and advising others on how to mitigate it, I conducted research on the restaurant and nonprofit scene in NYC. I created surveys that gave me an insider’s view of restaurants’ and nonprofits’ food donation and receiving habits, then wrote a paper analyzing those responses alongside background research on food waste, food insecurity, and the barriers that prevent excess food from being donated. Lastly, I created a series of infographics to make my findings accessible to the public and highlight practical ways restaurants and nonprofits can work together to reduce waste and redirect usable food to New Yorkers who need it. Through this project, I hoped not only to better understand why so much usable food continues to go to waste, but also to identify realistic ways organizations like 3 Sisters Food Rescue can help bridge the gap between excess food and food insecurity.