CHOP5’s Full Bellies Program: Fighting Food Insecurity With Fresh Produce Donations

Since its founding in 2016, CHOP5 Salad Kitchen has been more than just a destination for fresh and healthy eating; it’s a brand driven by a mission to give back. This commitment to community impact and food security takes center stage in CHOP5’s Full Bellies program, which was launched in 2017 as a way to combat food insecurity and contribute to the well-being of the community. With Full Bellies, CHOP5 aims to ensure that families in need receive fresh, nutritious produce — a rarity at many food banks.

“In developing CHOP5, one pillar for us was community,” said Brian Mills, co-founder and operating partner. “We developed the Full Bellies program to support the healthy eating aspect of living a healthier life. We take a percentage of our sales every month, and we turn around and purchase produce to take into local organizations.

When we started CHOP5, we thought, ‘How do we give back to the community? What do we do?’ And we thought that we could do that through helping people who are hungry and feeding them some quality food.

Full Bellies really started with thinking about children and thinking about how we can help them get fresh produce in their diets.”

Food donations impact

CHOP5 donates about 500 pounds of food per month and has donated over 25,000 pounds total since the start of the program in 2017, making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families facing food insecurity.

CHOP5’s commitment to sourcing and donating fresh produce fills an essential gap, offering families healthier options they might not otherwise receive.

While donating fresh food, specifically, is close to the hearts of the CHOP5 team given their dedication to fresh, healthy eating, Mills pointed out that they always call their partners at Heart to Heart and Westerville Area Resource Ministry to confirm the current needs of the food pantry.

Targeted giving strategy

“We focus on donating the right food to the right places at the right time,” Mills said. “We’re very cautious about talking to the food banks and understanding what they need at any given time to ensure we’re making the most appropriate contribution and truly filling gaps for the organizations and the larger community.”

The team also works to maintain a steady relationship with the community partners, giving back year-round as opposed to only supporting during popular times for giving back like around the holidays or during national awareness weeks.

CHOP5’s dedication to year-round impact is one of the key ways it stands out in its markets. For local teams, CHOP5 is more than just a business; it’s an opportunity to advocate for a healthier community. By focusing on fresh, quality food and consistent giving, CHOP5 is fostering healthier, more connected communities — one nutritious meal at a time.

“We believe that a business doesn’t just serve the guests; it serves the community as a whole,” Mills said. “When you give back to the community, your business thrives. Everyone appreciates it, and it’s just the right thing to do. It’s about helping kids get better quality food in their diets and supporting the communities that support us.”