Derek Britt presenting his check to the Lowcountry Food Bank’s Hollis Tuma after a month of eating only food that would otherwise be wasted Derek donated what he would have spent on groceries to the Lowcountry Food Bank.

Derek Britt, a software engineer at Blackbaud, has never been one to waste food. “I’ve always been one to clean my plate – even down to the last grain of rice. It’s a principle that my mother instilled in me my whole life.”

So when Derek saw a sizable amount of food about to be thrown away at a party, he intercepted it, and salvaged three days worth of meals for himself. That event sparked his curiosity – How long could he sustain himself eating only food that would otherwise be wasted or thrown away?

Derek’s curiosity turned into a full-blown challenge: For the entire month of December, he would consume nothing but foods found in everyday life. He set a goal for himself to raise hunger awareness amongst his peers and coworkers, and at the end of his journey, make a donation to the LCFB using funds he would have spent on groceries and dining out.

Throughout the month of December, Derek only ate food from company luncheons, holiday parties, and would even take food home from the staff refrigerator on Friday’s prior to the weekly “clean-out” – a routine he cleverly named ‘Friday foraging.’

“I tried to find things to balance my diet as best I could, but ultimately it was mostly junk food. Crackers, chips, candy, and even a gingerbread house or two,” shares Derek. “Occasionally, I would get an apple or salad, but that was most of the vitamins I was able to consume for the month.”

Shortly after beginning his challenge, Derek felt the physical effects of improper nutrition. “I would feel dizzy, sometimes with intense pain in the bottom part of my stomach.” This eventually led to feelings of depression, loss of focus, weakness, and an eight pound loss.

To stay focused, Derek consumed the majority of his calories during work hours, but despite his best efforts, staying alert was extremely challenging. Like the 200,000 food-insecure individuals that the LCFB serves, Derek experienced the gnawing pain of chronic hunger, which is more than just missing a meal or two – it is a part of everyday life. According to freedomhunger.org, chronic hunger negatively affects health, productivity, sense of hope and overall well-being. Food-insecurity can stunt growth, slow thinking, sap energy, hinder fetal development and contribute to mental handicap. 

While Derek felt the impacts of hunger for a month, all too many in the Lowcountry experience it first-hand on a daily basis. His “urban foraging challenge” gave him a stronger appreciation for the food, and in moving forward, will be much more conscious of food he wastes without realizing it. “Our resources can be better spent and should not be wasted like that. If we all minimize our waste, we can better leverage our resources to do other things — including helping others.”