Within three weeks, White Pony Express received two major honors recognizing the power of food recovery to nourish people and protect our planet.
The California Resource Recovery Association named WPE the 2026 Outstanding Edible Food Recovery Program, and Sustainable Contra Costa honored us with its 2026 Leadership in Sustainability Award.
“I wish these awards were large enough to carry the name of every person behind them,” said White Pony Express CEO Eve Birge. “WPE exists because thousands of people refuse to accept that good food should go to waste while neighbors go without. Every volunteer, food donor, partner, and supporter helps close that distance. That is love in action, and I’m very grateful to be part of it.”
One in ten Contra Costa residents faces food insecurity, yet only about 2% of surplus food nationwide is donated. The food exists. The need exists. What is missing is the connection. Every day, our volunteers and staff make that connection. They collect high-quality surplus food, carefully sort it, and deliver it fresh within hours. More than six tons move through White Pony Express each day, seven days a week, reaching 144 nonprofit partners at no cost.
White Pony Express began in 2013 with four volunteers, $800, and our founder Dr. Carol Weyland Conner’s belief that there is enough for everyone – we simply need a vehicle to share it. Thirteen years later, her model is providing the equivalent of 13,000 meals each day to neighbors across the county.
Our Community in Action
- More than 2,000 active volunteers
- Over six tons of fresh food delivered daily
- 144 nonprofit partners served at no cost
- More than 32 million meals delivered since 2015
These awards belong to everyone who helps turn abundance into nourishment and love for our neighbors.