PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A Pinellas County nonprofit is expanding its reach to feed more families in need — all by transforming surplus food that would otherwise be thrown away.

360 Eats, a local organization dedicated to rescuing excess food and turning it into nutritious, chef-prepared meals, has launched a temporary emergency meal hub. The expansion is supported by a new grant from United Way Suncoast and strengthened by a partnership with the St. Pete Free Clinic.

What You Need To Know

360 Eats, a local organization dedicated to rescuing excess food and turning it into nutritious, chef-prepared meals, has launched a temporary emergency meal hub at the St. Pete Free Clinic

The expansion is supported by a new grant from United Way Suncoast and strengthened by a partnership with the St. Pete Free Clinic.

Inside the standalone kitchen, chefs and volunteers work daily to recover and repurpose fresh ingredients from grocery stores, farms, food distributors and local businesses. 360 Eats Executive Director Cameron MacLeish says their mission is about addressing two problems at once: food waste and food insecurity

As part of the expansion, the 360 Eats food truck will now be stationed outside the St. Pete Free Clinic every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 2. Families can walk up and receive fresh meals at no cost

Inside the standalone kitchen, chefs and volunteers work daily to recover and repurpose fresh ingredients from grocery stores, farms, food distributors and local businesses. 360 Eats Executive Director Cameron MacLeish says their mission is about addressing two problems at once: food waste and food insecurity.

“So it’s a great way to bridge the gap between food waste and hunger right here in Pinellas County,” MacLeish said. “The second largest category of waste is food waste, actually, as reported by Pinellas County Solid Waste Department. You’re talking millions of pounds of fresh food that’s needlessly tossed away every single year. This makes zero sense when you’ve got thousands of families who don’t know where their next meal is going to come from.”

MacLeish says the model works because they’ve built relationships with local food sources that often have surplus for reasons outside their control.

“So we partner with a variety of local food businesses, food distributors, grocery stores, farms that have surplus food for whatever reason that they don’t plan on selling.”

Instead of that food ending up in landfills, it’s transformed into healthy meals that families can take home the same day.

A Mission Rooted in Family and Experience

360 Eats was founded by MacLeish and his mother, Executive Chef Ellen MacLeish, whose years in New York City restaurants and later in soup kitchens exposed her to the struggles of working parents trying to put meals on the table.

“The stress of watching her navigate that was excruciating and really inspired me to say I can’t fix everything, but I can certainly become a part of a solution.”

The nonprofit’s expansion formally began during the federal government shutdown, when SNAP benefit delays left families suddenly without resources. Since then, the need has only grown — particularly for working families living paycheck-to-paycheck.

That’s why 360 Eats operates with a no-barrier approach.

“You don’t have to qualify. You don’t have to show ID. You don’t have to make an appointment. Just show up to the truck when we’re there, and we’ll give you as many meals as you need — no questions asked,” said Ellen MacLeish.

Beyond helping families meet basic nutritional needs, the founders say the meals are intentionally high quality.

“Everyone deserves a meal with dignity. And so we really try to make our food as elevated and gourmet as possible,” said Cameron MacLeish.

For the MacLeishes, the goal is not just filling stomachs — it’s building community, reducing waste and offering comfort during difficult times.

As part of the expansion, the 360 Eats food truck will now be stationed outside the St. Pete Free Clinic every Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 2. Families can walk up and receive fresh meals at no cost.

Through its partnerships, rescued-food model and commitment to dignity, 360 Eats continues to show what’s possible when communities come together to tackle both waste and hunger — one plate at a time.