c/o 3 Sisters Food Rescue
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A new grassroots effort to reduce food waste — and get fresh meals to neighbors who need them — is gaining traction on the Upper West Side, thanks to three local teenagers.
Dahlia, Scarlett and Sonia Basmadjian have launched 3 Sisters Food Rescue, a nonprofit initiative that collects surplus meals from restaurants and food businesses and delivers them directly to nearby churches and shelters. Though the organization is only a few months old, the sisters say they’re already moving more than 150 meals a week.
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Their current food partners include Manny’s Bistro on Columbus Avenue and the Brooklyn-based meal-kit company CookUnity. Through these two sources alone, they’ve been able to routinely supply food to All Angels’ Church on West 80th Street, Holy Trinity Church on West 82nd Street, and West End Collegiate Church.For Dahlia, the idea emerged after growing up around the restaurant industry. She says she became increasingly aware of the disconnect between the amount of food businesses discard and the persistent food insecurity visible across the neighborhood. Her mission: create a simple system that connects those two realities — and ensure good meals don’t end up in the trash.
According to the organization’s website, her long-term vision is to “bridge the gap between food surplus and food insecurity by efficiently redirecting excess food to local communities in need,” ultimately building “a stronger, more equitable community.” The name 3 Sisters Food Rescue reflects her plan to grow the effort with her younger sisters, who are already helping with day-to-day operations.
The trio spent the summer canvassing the Upper West Side, stepping into restaurants, handing out flyers, building out their social media presence, and sharing the project through friends and family. The response has been encouraging — but they believe the need is far greater than what two food partners can currently supply.
“There is an increasing need to address food insecurity on the UWS,” Dahlia wrote in an email to ILTUWS. The sisters are hoping more restaurants, cafés, caterers, and prepared-food businesses will join the effort, allowing them to expand deliveries and reach additional community organizations.
Any food establishments interested in participating can reach out through the group’s website, 3sistersfoodrescue.com, where the sisters outline their mission and process.
For now, they’re focused on growing slowly and sustainably — but they hope their early momentum will inspire a broader neighborhood movement to curb waste and support vulnerable residents.
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