As concerns about food waste and food insecurity continue to grow nationwide, a Murray-connected nonprofit is working to address both issues at once. WasteLess Solutions, led by CEO Alexx Goeller, operates at the intersection of surplus recovery, community partnerships and public education, with a mission focused on reducing waste while improving access to usable food.

“At our core, WasteLess Solutions is tackling a culture of overproduction and overconsumption which leads to an enormous amount of food waste,” Goeller said. “Roughly 30-40% of the U.S. food supply is thrown away each year.”

The organization works directly with food donors—such as restaurants, grocers and event providers—to recover surplus food that would otherwise be discarded. That food is then redistributed, often within hours, to nonprofit partners and community organizations serving populations experiencing food insecurity.

“We are focusing on both ends of the issue, preventing food waste at the source through education, and redirecting surplus edible food to communities experiencing food insecurity,” Goeller said.

While the concept of food rescue may appear simple, Goeller emphasized that the day-to-day operations are complex and time-sensitive. “The biggest challenge that we face with food rescue is logistically moving large quantities of highly perishable food quickly and safely,” she said. “Timing is crucial and it requires consistent and frequent coordination between donors, volunteers and receiving agencies.”

WasteLess Solutions relies on a network of volunteers—many based in and around Murray—to carry out these rescues. Volunteers pick up food donations and transport them directly to partner organizations, often during narrow time windows to ensure freshness and safety.

“Reliance on volunteers does come with some unpredictability,” Goeller said. “To manage that, we maintain a large volunteer base and are working on building stronger backup systems for last-minute changes.”

Despite those challenges, she said engagement has remained strong. “Many volunteers feel a passionate connection to our mission and stick with specific routes long-term,” she said.

A key part of the organization’s approach is its partnership model. Rather than distributing food independently in all cases, WasteLess Solutions works with established nonprofits that already serve specific populations, allowing for more targeted and appropriate distribution.

“A lot of that balance comes down to effective partnerships and relationship management,” Goeller said. “We work closely with other nonprofit organizations that already serve specific communities and understand their needs.”

She pointed to one example where a juice donation was directed to a partner serving individuals without teeth, illustrating how coordination can align food supply with specific needs.

In addition to these partnerships, the organization has begun operating its own mobile markets in the area. These markets allow individuals to select food items directly, rather than receiving pre-packaged distributions.

“When they arrive, there is a large selection of food which allows people to select exactly what they need,” Goeller said. “That program is new for us and has been extremely successful.”

WasteLess Solutions measures its impact through a combination of data and community feedback. While pounds of food rescued and people served remain important benchmarks, Goeller said the organization also evaluates partnership strength, volunteer engagement and program quality.

“Quality of programming is just as important as quantity,” she said, noting that ensuring the food is both usable and valuable to recipients is a central focus.

The organization also works to address misconceptions about rescued food. “A common misconception is that rescued food comes from the garbage or is unsafe in some way,” Goeller said. “In reality, the food is high-quality and perfectly edible.”

Beyond redistribution, WasteLess Solutions incorporates education into its mission, working with businesses and community members to reduce waste before it occurs. This includes guidance on event planning, waste reduction strategies and reporting tools that help organizations track their impact.

“We don’t just redistribute food, we are actively helping businesses and consumers reduce surplus in the first place,” Goeller said.

Looking ahead, Goeller said broader systemic changes could further support efforts like those underway in Murray. “Standardizing date labeling and strengthening food donation policies would make a significant difference,” she said, pointing to confusion around “best by” and “use by” labels as a major contributor to unnecessary waste.

While systemic change may take time, WasteLess Solutions continues to operate at the intersection of environmental sustainability and community need—working to ensure that food that might otherwise be discarded finds its way to those who can use it.