Though they have been known for their annual Ride for Food (which will take place this year on September 2), Three Squares New England (www.threesquaresne.org) has been adding another popular and productive event to heir repertoire in the form of their Ultimate Food Rescue Challenge, which took place this year at Capo in South Boston on June 19 and raised over $30,000 for Three Square’s vital cause.

While so many of us are privileged enough to not only choose where and when we eat but also how much (with the result often being TOO much!), millions in MA and elsewhere face food insecurity every day. What makes the situation even more tragic is the fact that thousands of pounds of food are also wasted every day in homes, schools, and restaurants.

That is where TSNE comes in.

Working with other organizations and also with many starts of the food industry, TSNE encourages saving and helps redirect what would otherwise become wasted food to people and organizations that can put it to much better use (as in saving lives better!).

At the Food Challenge, super chefs like La Morra’s Josh Ziskin, Culinary SWAT’s Stephen Coe, the dynamic duo of Women’s Lunch Place’s Sherry Hughes and Jody Adams of Porto, Trade and Saloniki (which is soon to open in Harvard Square), amateur chef David Candeias, independent chef Joe Gatto, and Capo’s own pastry professional Kate Holowchik, and international kitchen king Travis “T-bone” Talbot rolled into Capo around 10 am to take possession of food items that had been saved from such popular purveyors as Chestnut Farms, Russo’s Produce, Red’s Best seafood, and Verde Farms meats to assemble the best possible plate they could. And as any of the over 200 in attendance can tell you, the results were amazing!

As guests enjoyed and voted on each dish, they also enjoyed beverages from Artifact Cider Project, Cipriani, Left Hand Brewing, Ideal Wine & Spirits, Lower Falls Wine, and Magnolia Wine, many of which were later available as part of the evening’s amazing auction, which also included items from Loon Mountain, the New England Revolution, and many generous others. At the end of the night, each guests was sent home with a delicious butterfly from Fancypants Baking Co. and the good feeling that comes not only from making sure no food was wasted but also that they had done something to help others in their community.

Speaking of community sponsors for the event included Direct Federal, BitSight, Noble & Greenough School, Goodwin Procter, Needham Bank and Walpole Cooperative Bank, Rev’d, and Sisti Marketing Group.

Those who wish to get involved or get ready for the Sept 2 ride can go to www.threesquaresne.org/ride-for-food/.