Faces, Places & Voices Of PVREA: Vindeket Foods

What happens when passionate advocates come together to vindicate food from waste? You get Vindeket Foods. This food rescue nonprofit in Fort Collins is redefining what it means to care for both people and the planet. What started as a discovery project has now blossomed into a thriving hub that rescues 40,000 to 70,000 pounds of food each week — food that would otherwise go to waste.

Nathan Shaw, the founder and executive director behind Vindeket, brings a unique blend of environmental awareness and community spirit. A Texas A&M graduate with a degree in geology, he spent years in environmental remediation. His journey eventually led him to the Western Slope, where his connection to farms and food deepened. After moving to Northern Colorado, Nathan saw firsthand how much food was thrown out in his community. He began rescuing food by partnering with the local nonprofit Serve 6.8, and by 2020, his project had grown into a mission big enough to stand on its own.

Vindeket operates on a simple but powerful philosophy. “We want food to be consumed so it doesn’t go to waste,” Nathan said. “We’re made of a true, community who cares about one another and food — where it comes from and where it goes.”

The organization is comprised of one part-time and two full-time employees and a dedicated team of 230 regular volunteers. They have relationships with more than 50 regular partners including major grocery stores, farms, and restaurants who reach out when they have a surplus of food, trusting Vindeket to redistribute it effectively before it is wasted.

Nathan emphasized how volunteers are the backbone of the operation. They complete four to five daily food pickups around Colorado in their Vindeket box trucks, they unload and clean the trucks, maintain the building, and run the food markets held three times a week: Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, two shifts per day. The market is open to anyone and everyone with a ‘donate what you can’ model. Vindeket averages over 12,000 visits per month.

Education is also a key part of Vindeket’s mission. Nathan speaks passionately about the confusion surrounding food labeling. Terms like “use by,” “best before,” and “expired” often lead to unnecessary waste. By helping the community understand the difference between food quality and food safety, he empowers people to make informed choices.

Earlier this year, Vindeket Foods moved into a new facility and became a member of Poudre Valley REA. With the move comes big plans to improve the facility and expand its ability to serve the community by adding walk-in coolers and freezers to increase cold storage capacity, as well as installing an air conditioning system. To bring these improvements to life, Vindeket is continuing into the second phase of their Root Bound fundraising campaign. Additionally, general support donations will help cover the day-to-day costs of operating seven days a week.

At its core, Vindeket is more than a food rescue, it’s a movement. It’s about reducing waste, serving the community, and creating a space where people care for one another.

As Nathan puts it, “I’ve learned that people keep showing up and working hard for their communities to do something meaningful. People want the opportunity to do good for each other.”

Through Vindeket, people get that opportunity and it’s becoming a powerful tool for change. To learn more about Vindeket Foods, donate, or get involved visit vindeketfoods.org.