Food From Trash at the ‘Anarchist Picnic’

A photo of members of the Food Not Bombs organization eating at Dupont Circle.

Members of the D.C. chapter feast on scavenged food. Photo by Bryan Yannantuono.

It is only fitting that an organization called Food Not Bombs has its D.C. headquarters in the shadow of a military installation-turned-entertainment complex. Founded in 1980 to protest the rising violence and militarization of society, Food Not Bombs chapters now span the globe, feeding vegetarian and vegan meals to the homeless and hungry.  

Their unifying belief is that society promotes brutality far more than it promotes compassion. From the media’s obsession with violence to the billions of taxpayer dollars spent on military equipment, the group believes that society is plagued with death all around. Noting that millions of people starve every day even though enough food exists to feed them, Food Not Bombs rejects the status quo for practical idealism.  

With chapters in more than 1,000 cities worldwide, the D.C. chapter had previously been dormant when a couple of friends kick-started it again in July 2009. Like other chapters, all members are volunteers and the group is leaderless. Members are free to come and go as they please with no strict commitment. As one member, Kennedy Nadler, describes it, Food Not Bombs is an “anarchist picnic.”  

Most people are not aware of the tremendous amounts of food thrown out every year, fewer still that a group like Food Not Bombs exists to reclaim it. Having recently moved to the District, I have found the waste painfully obvious. That said, I was pleased to help put a stop to this madness by preparing, distributing and later eating some of the District’s squandered sustenance.  

A photo of recovered food.
Photo by Bryan Yannantuono.

In the spirit of activism and waste reclamation, chapters typically do not buy the meals that they prepare. Instead, they collect from donations or dumpster-dive. Yes, much has been salvaged from the trash, a testament to industrial waste. And I dare you to find more satisfying food in the city.  

One day we ate banana bread, salad, Italian bread, roasted bell pepper stew, fresh hummus, apple sauce and fruit salad. Another time we had vegetarian chili, fried rice with garbanzo beans and a rich, hearty stew of potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and broccoli.  

Food is for all who pass by, and a number of the city’s homeless population takes advantage of it. Reveling at the genuine generosity and respect for the community, a friend of mine said, “Instead of having a clear line between the giver and the receiver, everyone felt equal and welcome.”  

Though I’ve only just started to volunteer my time with Food Not Bombs, I already feel a strong sense of camaraderie with the people I have met: nonprofit workers, local students and even a high school teacher. Just recently, a dozen students from Colorado State University offered their time as part of their Alternative Spring Break, which focused on homelessness in America. And that doesn’t even begin to cover the homeless.  

In short, Food Not Bombs is about extravagance without waste. It is about recycling waste into productivity. It is about rebelling against the status quo. And it is about having fun.  

Food Not Bombs prepares meals every Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at 1834 A St. S.E., directly across from the Stadium-Armory Metro Station. The group then convenes at the fountain at Dupont Circle around 4 p.m. to pass out food. All are welcome. 


Issues |Hunger|Nonprofits


Region |Dupont Circle|Ward 2|Ward 6|Washington DC

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