In the U.S., 25% of food produced is wasted, with food banks seeing a 30% increase in demand, particularly among children and seniors. The document highlights various programs and initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and food waste, such as AmeriCorps VISTA and local food banks, involving 2,000 volunteers who contributed 6,100 hours and collected 1,000,000 pounds of food. Collaboration and community involvement are emphasized as essential for addressing food insecurity.