The Inspiration

In 2019, during a college interview trip to Philadelphia, founder Akshay Khanna witnessed a stark contrast at Reading Terminal Market. While visiting Beiler's Bakery, he learned that perfectly edible baked goods were being discarded at the end of each day—even as homeless individuals outside faced food insecurity.

This revelation became the spark for ClosingTimes—a movement dedicated to reducing food waste and addressing hunger in local communities.

ClosingTimes is Born

Through research, Akshay discovered that restaurants and bakeries across the country routinely discard unsold food. According to the USDA, between 30-40% of the U.S. food supply is wasted annually—amounting to nearly $300 billion in 2018 alone.

Motivated to tackle both food insecurity and food waste, Akshay envisioned a system where businesses could donate surplus food, and technology could seamlessly connect them with shelters and community organizations. ClosingTimes was founded as a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the gap between excess and need.

Our Mission Today

ClosingTimes bridges the gap between food surplus and food insecurity. Through our mobile app and volunteer network, we rescue quality food from local restaurants and bakeries, delivering it fresh to shelters and organizations serving our community's most vulnerable neighbors.

Under the leadership of founders Akshay and Arjun Khanna, ClosingTimes has expanded across multiple states, building strong partnerships and a reliable volunteer network. We continue to foster innovation, accountability, and sustainable growth in our mission to serve vulnerable communities.

About the Founder

Akshay Khanna, the founder of ClosingTimes, is a senior at Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia. He has maintained strong ties to both his hometown of Edison, New Jersey, and his college community in Philadelphia. During his formative years and frequent visits to India, Akshay witnessed the harsh realities of food insecurity firsthand. Inspired by his passion for cooking and baking for friends, he came to appreciate the profound impact that even the simplest act of sharing food can have in bringing comfort and joy to others.

About the Co-Founder

Arjun Khanna, Co-Founder of ClosingTimes, is a Junior at Cornell University, with a longstanding commitment to community service through school clubs, local initiatives, and volunteer work. His values were shaped early on by time spent at his local Gurudwara, where free meals are provided to all regardless of background, and by watching his parents volunteer at local soup kitchens. These experiences deepened his awareness of the widespread challenges of food insecurity and instilled a belief that access to food is a basic human right.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic further reinforced this conviction, as images of families waiting in long lines for meals highlighted the urgency of the crisis. Determined to take action, Arjun teamed up with his brother, Akshay, to co-found ClosingTimes. Together, they created a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the gap between surplus food from restaurants and bakeries and the pressing needs of homeless shelters and food-insecure communities.