Cultivate Food Rescue Hired Grace Brenneman

The South Bend nonprofit added a food sourcing representative to manage protein donation programs from local farms.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Organic Food

Bold vector editorial illustration showing harvest crates of produce next to a metal livestock latch, representing local food rescue efforts. — Cultivate Food Rescue, a South Bend nonprofit, has hired Grace Brenneman as a sourcing representative to manage protein and produce donations from regional farms. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should local farmers prioritize donating surplus food to local pantries over selling it?

In summer 2026, South Bend-based Cultivate Food Rescue hired Grace Brenneman to expand its farm-to-pantry operations. Brenneman previously developed the organization's sourcing model during her University of Notre Dame capstone project.

Why it matters

The program addresses a systemic disconnect between agricultural producers and local food pantries by capturing protein that might otherwise go unused. This initiative helps bridge the nutrition gap for 63,000 food-insecure residents across St. Joseph, Marshall, and Elkhart counties.

During the 2026 fair season, the nonprofit accepted 174 hogs and one dairy steer, producing 20,405 pounds of protein. The broader farm-direct program contributed an additional 165 animals and 17,902 pounds of protein in the same year.

The players

Grace Brenneman

She is a University of Notre Dame graduate who joined the staff as a food sourcing development representative.

Cultivate Food Rescue

This South Bend-based organization manages programs to connect agricultural protein donations with local food-insecure families.

The details

Cultivate Food Rescue mitigates food insecurity by purchasing animals that fail to meet commercial processor weight specifications at discounted rates. The organization also secures agricultural produce that is deemed too large or too small for standard retail supermarket display.

Cultivate began purchasing or receiving livestock donations in 2021.
Brenneman submitted her capstone report in April 2026.
Brenneman graduated from the University of Notre Dame in May 2026.
Cultivate hired Grace Brenneman in summer 2026.
The nonprofit accepted 175 animals during the 2026 fair season.

Culture Shift

The transition toward direct farm-to-pantry distribution models represents a growing societal effort to recover agricultural waste. By bypassing traditional retail chains, nonprofits are increasingly capitalizing on localized food systems to address regional nutrition gaps.

Local farmers gain a reliable outlet for animals that do not meet commercial weight standards, turning potential losses into community assets. Residents in the tri-county area benefit from a steady supply of donated proteins that might not otherwise reach regional pantries.

The takeaway

This farm-direct model demonstrates that regional food security can be improved by integrating surplus agricultural output into existing supply chains. Small-scale producers can implement similar donation partnerships with local pantries to reduce waste and support neighbors.