Omar & Ani: Turning Surplus into Support with Leftover Love

Leftover Love Inc. is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to rescuing fresh leftover food from local businesses and delivering it to those in need. By partnering with restaurants, cafes, and other establishments, Leftover Love ensures that surplus food reaches community organizations serving individuals facing food insecurity.

The founders, Omar and Ani Tarabishi, were inspired to start Leftover Love after noticing the amount of food wasted during their travels. Upon settling in Baltimore, they connected with local businesses to redirect surplus food to those in need, fostering a stronger, more compassionate community.

CCA Co-Marketing Chair and Leftover Love volunteer Julie M. Kichline chatted with the couple to share more about the nonprofit and their love of SE Baltimore.

Hi Omar, You’re relatively new to Baltimore. How long have you been SE residents and how did you end up here?
We moved here a little over 3 years ago after I (Omar) finished my MA at UMD.  We were living in a tiny studio apartment and had just gotten married, so when Ani got a job offer in Baltimore, we decided we wanted to put down roots there.  We visited friends who lived in HIghlandtown for dinners often, and they sold us on the idea of buying a home here.  We love it and our block is so friendly that we have July 4th cookouts and holiday parties together.

When did you start Leftover Love and how’s it going so far?
Ani and I started LL on a mini-moon trip across the US by train.  It was still COVID times, so we didn’t want to go abroad just to find places partially or fully shut down.  We purchased the Amtrak rail pass, which was discounted at the time, and decided to see what the rest of the US looks like.  In Chicago at a Cubs game, we noticed that the concessions were still mass producing food though it was the bottom of the 8th inning, and no one was in line.  It didn’t make sense to us, and when we asked about the food, they said they had to throw it away.  This got us thinking, why can’t a food rescue organization focus on the already created food rather than grocery produce, and what would that look like in a city?  We started in our own neighborhood and slowly expanded outwards to have conversations with cafe and bakery owners to understand if there was excess food and how we could get it into the hands of the community in need.  Here we are, 1 year later after our incorporation sitting at just under 60,000 lbs of rescued food that has been relocated to the community in need by bringing it over to other nonprofits that the community is familiar with.

Who are some of your partners in and around Canton?
Partners who donate: Good Boy Bagels, THB Bagels, Ovenbird Bakery, Pie Time
Partners we deliver to: Anchor Library, Linwood Free Community Fridge, Salaam Center, Compassion Center on Eastern Ave., Helping Up Mission, Beneficial Pain/ Joshua’s Pantry

What’s in the works for 2025 and how can the CCA and our neighbors help?
For 2025, we set the goal of 84,000 lbs of rescued food after selling ourselves short and exceeding our goal of 20,000 lbs in 2024.  There is a whole lot more food that is still wasted in the city, and when it comes to our partners, we hope to get more volunteers signed up with us to rescue on additional days so that we could cover multiple branches of some of our food donors.  We want to expand, but we want to do it in a smart way where we don’t overcommit so we slowly tack on another day for rescuing as our volunteer base expands.  This year, we want to further professionalize LL, updating our website to show articles that we’re featured in, having a more robust social media presence, receive increased donations and funding to help reimburse volunteers for mileage and possibly obtain an organization vehicle for those really hefty rescues.  We always say there are 3 ways to help LL: 1.) Donate 2.)  Volunteer and 3.) Connect us with business owners in Baltimore that may have leftover wholesome food to donate at COB and let’s have a conversation about how LL can help get their amazing product to the community in need.

When you’re not helping to feed the neighborhood, what do you do for fun?
I enjoy playing soccer with Volo, tennis in Patterson Park, and coaching/refereeing youth with the Volo Kids Foundation.  I’m still passionate about my language and culture, so I do some Arabic translation, and tutoring online for the community.  We’re gearing up for our first child (Ani is due in March) but prior to the baby she was outside running around Patterson Park, helping train our dog Maple and has recently taken up crocheting with the community here.  We also enjoy having friends and neighbors over for Movie Night, something we hope we don’t give up once the baby is here.

What do you like most about living in SE Bmore?
We love the variety we have around us in close proximity.  From a bustling main street on Eastern Ave. to the quaint quiet streets decorated by street lights, it’s really homey to know your neighbors, your neighbors’ dogs, and the kiddos that run around after school.  You get to really invest in your community by learning more about the people around you, and trying new things together like food at Good Boy Bagels or Pho Bac.  There’s something here for everyone, and Highlandtown First Friday Art Walk is a tradition we have thoroughly enjoyed too as the entire neighborhood is out and alive!

What would you like the community to know?
COVID devastated the community in more ways than one.  Food is a basic human right that everyone should have access to, and we hope to challenge restaurant, cafe and bakery owners to be smarter about their waste and donate to food rescue organizations city-wide.  We don’t know what people are going through, so we want to do our best to provide leftover wholesome food to the community in need to provide for themselves and their families.  We all have a little leftover love to give, whether it’s time in your day to volunteer, a connection with a business owner, or a donation to our cause, let’s help our community members by sharing Baltimore Based food with the Baltimore Community.

Since its inception, Leftover Love has rescued over 55,687 pounds of food, showcasing a strong commitment to reducing both food waste and hunger in Baltimore. With an efficient cost of approximately 10 cents per pound, every dollar donated goes a long way—just $50 can help rescue about 500 pounds of food. To support this mission, visit givebutter.com/leftover-love-inc.

The impact of Leftover Love has not gone unnoticed. Co-founder Omar Tarabishi was recently honored as a 2024 Weaver Award recipient and recognized by the Arab America Foundation as part of their prestigious 40 Under 40 list.

At the heart of Leftover Love’s success are its dedicated volunteers. By joining the team, you can make a real difference in the lives of Baltimore residents. Volunteers play a crucial role by collecting surplus food from local businesses and delivering it to community organizations—all while following CDC food safety guidelines. The nonprofit also strives to customize delivery routes to fit each volunteer's schedule, making it easier for neighbors to get involved.

Want to get help? To become a food donor email leftoverloveinc@gmail.com. To volunteer as a driver or for more information, visit LeftoverLoveInc.org.