My mom worked at the same bakery for 18 years. Everyone loved her — they called her the Cookie Lady. One rainy night, she gave leftover bread and two muffins to a homeless vet. Food that was going in the trash anyway. The next morning, her new manager — Derek, fresh from corporate — fired her on the spot. “Company policy,” he smirked. She came home crying, still in her flour-dusted apron. I never forgot that. Fast-forward 10 years. I run a food-tech company that donates leftovers to shelters. We