Inspired by local relief efforts, Bridge Meals presents a community-driven model for addressing food insecurity worldwide. Founded by Asheville entrepreneur Will Oseroff and cofounder Nick Aralin, the organization partners with local restaurants to offer free meals funded directly by community donations, with plans to feed folks far beyond WNC.

The idea for Bridge Meals was born in the wake of Helene, when local restaurants stepped up to feed the community with no questions asked. The "crowdfeeding" system is based on existing behaviors: People want to help. Restaurants know how to serve meals. Many people need meals. Bridge Meals is simply the infrastructure that keeps money funneled to restaurants so they can do it sustainably.

The service launched in January with founding partner Rosetta's Kitchen, which has been operating an "everybody eats" program for more than 21 years.

Find QR codes to donate at participating spots like Rosetta's. | Photo by Shan Dinally

The interface resembles DoorDash, telling you in real time which restaurants are providing meals and what they're serving. There are currently seven options, ranging from nourishing vegetarian fare at Rosettas to the famous fried chicken sandwich at Sand Hill Kitchen to bimonthly soup days at the new upscale RAD spot, Crusco. The accessibility and choice are intentional. "What we're trying to build is a dignified way for people to go and receive these meals, because it's not always easy to ask for help," Oseroff said.

The plan is to apply the model to cities across the world, with the goal of 100,000 participating restaurants in the next 10 years. Next up is Vancouver, where Aralin lives. As long as there are restaurants that want to be involved, people that want to support the restaurants, and a need for people to be fed, Oseroff says the model can scale.

How to help

The best way to help the crowdfeeding going is by donating to Bridge Meals. There, you'll also see the prompt to tip the team, which relies on community support to keep operations running. Every dollar donated is tracked on the transparency dashboard, so you can see exactly where your contribution goes.

Beyond donations, spreading the word about Bridge Meals via social media is another influential way to help. "You never know by you sharing one of our posts to your stories, or to one of your friends, who that's gonna get out to and where they fit into our system," Oseroff said.

Beyond donations, spreading the word about Bridge Meals via social media is another influential way to help. "You never know by you sharing one of our posts to your stories, or to one of your friends, who that's gonna get out to and where they fit into our system," Oseroff said.

Interested in partnering with Bridge Meals? Restaurants and vendors can apply to join and businesses can inquire about sponsorships.