Sandwiches and soup in-hand, the 3 Sisters Food Rescue is on the move.

“It feels like we’re really chipping away at a larger problem,” Dahlia Basmadjian said.

Dahlia is 16 years old. Sonia and Scarlett Basmadjian are 13 years old. They are the three sisters of 3 Sisters Food Rescue.

What You Need To Know

  • The Basmadjian sisters started 3 Sisters Food Rescue to alleviate food waste and food insecurity on the Upper West Side

  • The trio, all teenagers, bring food from local restaurants to local food pantries each week

  • The mission is personal to them, having had family in the food industry and friends who have needed the service of food pantries

They started bringing meals from local businesses to food pantries last year. The meals are in part made from food that would have gone to waste otherwise.

“The solution for us seemed doable,” Dahlia said. “And the path that we took in order to solve both issues, it seemed like something the three of us were capable of doing. So why not do it?”  

The trio grew up with family in the food business and say they learned about what happened when ingredients go to waste. The problem hit even closer to home when they realized they knew people who were relying on local pantries. 

“We were very aware of the issue of food insecurity in our neighborhood,” Dahlia said. “So, 3 Sisters Food Rescue bridged the gap of insecurity and food waste.”

They did that by finding local businesses to whip up meals for charities. With the help of their dad or Uber, the sisters now deliver between one and two hundred meals each week. And they leave a lasting impression in the process.

“I’m thrilled about the idea that young people can do something, that their ideas and their thoughts make a difference,” said Colleen Glazer, the parish program coordinator and director of religious education at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church. The church hands out food to those in need.

“I’m so proud of them that they are doing this. And it’s a great cause,” said Manuel Colon, the owner of Manny’s Bistro. The Columbus Avenue restaurant donates meals to the food rescue effort.  

And the twins are already looking ahead to when Dahlia heads to college.

“The two of us will work on it together, and we’ll try to continue. Continue to do the food deliveries and try to expand more,” Scarlett said.

“Even though she may not be here to help, I think that it’s important that we keep feeding the people that need to be fed,” Sonia said.

It is something they say can be done at any age.

“I think starting off early and getting an early understanding of what it means to rescue food waste and food insecurity on the Upper West Side, it’s kind of paving a path for a new generation,” Dahlia said.

For rescuing food to go to their neighbors in need, the Basmadjian sisters are our New Yorkers of the Week.