Recovery Relief Foundation, Inc.

In 1996, while working for one of the largest organic supermarkets in the nation, Debra Ulrich noticed the staggering amount of food that was being thrown out and wasted. She asked that the food be given to her so that it could be delivered without charge, to individuals who needed it.                                    

Recovery Relief focuses on Complete and Total Recovery. 

After making sure the food was available for pickup (that first Friday night), Debra gradually increased the number of days she would recover and freely distribute the food. Over the course of less than 4 years, she picked up and freely delivered over $4 million worth of food (and shelter items). 

300 $100/meal dinners that were recovered from a Smithsonian fund-raising event for 3000 people, were freely delivered to the Gospel Rescue Mission in Washington, D.C.

It was a tremendously huge task to be able to make it possible for nothing to be thrown out on any day of the week.

Very small communities with the greatest need, were not able to acquire it for themselves.

Initially, it took over a year for the food to be consistently recovered from the first store alone. Employees needed to be educated and schedules had to be implemented and carried out. Ultimately, enough food was recovered in 4 years, to feed over 4000 people per week. One bakery donated enough bread and bakery goods to feed 1000 people per night (22 55gallon garbage bags a night!).

It became clear (over time) that specific ‘pockets’ of communities of truly disadvantaged people were in the most dire need, due to a real 'lack'. They themselves were rarely in a position to recover it, and there was too much food recovered for such a small community to consume it all by itself. They could not handle the tremendous amount of effort required to distribute to others like them.

The food that Debra initially delivered to a friend’s house with the effort (and intention) of never having it thrown away, and having it only go to those with no food (or very little), was picked up, distributed and consumed by over thousands and thousands of people who needed it, and organizations who serviced them.

In building the corporate capacity and organizational structure of the corporation, there needs to be a (built-in) system that functions efficiently and reliably, 24 hours a day/7 days a week with no definitive local (or even state) lines drawn.

Recovered items are needed most by many who are barely making ends meet. An organized recovery relief system - through an effort that has the capacity at any time of the day or night to transport items of sustenance to a disadvantaged community or individual in any location - is urgently needed.

The operation has to have the capabilities necessary to offer pick up and delivery of perishable and nonperishable surplus foods, clothing and shelter items and services to anyone who doesn't have it, and has no means of getting it.

This MISSION is an extremely valuable source of expanded outreach service fostering community growth and sustainability for ALL individuals.  If done correctly, it will provide a tremendous public service that is not currently available.

    As long there are children in need every day, no surplus or unused goods need to be thrown away. The day may yet come, when toleration of waste will no longer be an acceptable practice, and the effort supportive organizations, individuals and governments put forward in making Recovery Relief Foundation's Mission a reality, will be a priceless outreach program that will support ALL communities far-and-wide.   

Support for this effort allows an individual to

maintain dignity and respect.

       It also assures the sustainability of

this planet and every living being on it!