A Letter from the Founders: Why We Started 360 Eats
During my travels through Australia in 2015, I found myself face-to-face for the first time with a shocking reality. Behind a local grocery store on the outskirts of Melbourne was a dumpster overflowing with untouched wholesome food awaiting its demise at a local landfill. At that moment two questions I never thought I would ask popped into my head; Why is all of this perfectly edible food being thrown away? And how on earth are we going to haul all of it home?
I had stumbled on a community of "dumpster divers" who fed themselves almost solely on the good food grocery stores had discarded. Day after day, the community of 27 ate a surplus of quality foods at virtually no cost. This experience inspired me and, as I continued my travels around the globe, I challenged myself to source a majority of my food from dumpsters.
What I believed would be a difficult journey soon proved to be surprisingly easy. I began to witness the extent of food waste globally and quickly realized that it is not just an isolated issue. This experience completely reshaped the way I thought about food and is what has led to my pursuance of a just and sustainable food system.
In 2019, I partnered with my mother, Ellen, a professional chef and fellow food waste activist, to create a Youtube cooking show and food waste awareness project called 'Cooking With Trash". The project quickly gained traction after only a month of production and was soon picked up by networks such as NBC's Today Show, HuffPost's "This New World", 60 Second Docs, Garden Culture Magazine, and Feeding Tampa Bay.
Although it is crucial to bring these issues to light, it is equally important to provide solutions. Where ‘Cooking With Trash’ succeeded in raising awareness it lacked in providing a viable solution. 360 Eats is the next step in the quest to end food waste and food insecurity and it provides a simple yet effective model to help transition to a sustainable and just food system.
It is our mission at 360 Eats to help reshape our food system to benefit humankind as well as our environment. We hope in by doing so we can all work together to create a bright and healthy future for all.
Cameron Macleish
Founder / Chairman / CEO
Hi there! My name is Cameron. I am a Florida local and a musician, traveler, activist, and hummus enthusiast.
I find inspiration in the world and its cultures, traditions, landscapes, history, food, music and art. Selflessness, passion and kindness are qualities in people that inspire me on a daily basis.
In my spare time, you can find me working on music or playing a show with my band, exercising, reading, outdoors camping, hiking, and relaxing in my hammock, volunteering in the community, or traveling and exploring new locations.
Ellen Macleish
Vice-Chairman / Head Chef / Internal Affairs Committee
Hello, I'm Ellen. I'm inspired by kindness, generosity, humility, honesty and natural beauty.
In my spare time, I practice yoga, Pilates, reading new fiction, walking in beautiful spaces and even cooking (yes, I also do it for relaxation and fun!).
The natural food movement in the 70s changed how I saw food and it's critical role in our ongoing health, but also how the food system was being industrialized, politicized and marketed away from being truly healthy for us. I entered the food industry professionally just seven years ago, with a commitment to affect positive change from within.
Laura Tamayo
Volunteer Coordinator
Dog Loving. Fun Loving. Sun Loving.
Prefers flip-flops.
Enjoying this educational journey as I transform my passion for natural, organic, and biodynamic wine and food into activities beneficial to our planet.
Beyond excited to be of any help to Cameron and Ellen in their 360 Eats adventures. I love their vision and their goals.
Casey Wright
Board Member / Internal Affairs Committee
Hello! My name is Casey Wright. I work as a Vice President of Operations for US Foods, where I serve as an operations liaison within the enterprise’s project management office. My expertise lies in project management, warehousing, logistics, and last-mile delivery in the food distribution industry.
I live in Tampa with my wife and our Goldendoodle named Magnolia Mae. In my spare time, I enjoy golfing, lifting, running, and cycling. Each year, I participate in a 160-mile, two-day ride called “Bike MS” that aims to fundraise for Multiple Sclerosis research to find a cure.
As a food pantry volunteer and having witnessed food waste first-hand within the distribution and retail industries, I’m most passionate about 360 Eats’ circular and sustainable solution to eliminate waste and food insecurity.
Rose Curcio
Board of Director / Governance Committee Chairman
Hi, I'm Rose Curcio. I am a food safety specialist and trainer/educator. I love my job because it combines two of my favorite things - food and science!
I grew up visiting family here in Florida and I fell in love with it. I live in Safety Harbor with my human and fur family. I am inspired by the kindness and humanity in people. I have always believed that people are good, kind, and generous - we have so much in common and it is really a small world.
I love to take my dog for long walks especially along the water. I love to swim and be in nature. Even though I am a public speaker, I most enjoy my quiet time alone with a good read!
Cooking is a passion of mine and I am a foodie for sure. For some, food is a luxury. I believe everyone should have access to nutritious food. It is unacceptable that 1 in 7 people in our country are food insecure while 72 billion pounds of food is wasted each year. 360 Eats has a great plan to help combat and hopefully eliminate hunger and food waste. It is our duty to leave this place a little better than we found it and that is what I hope to do.
