Perishable Food

With your help, if we could recover just 5% of the food wasted each year, we could help feed 14 million people.

We distribute food to:

- Day-care centers for low-income families
- Facilities for seniors and persons in recovery
- Shelters for battered women
- Programs for the homeless
- Programs for the mentally challenged

If you have leftover food at the end of the day, make your restaurant part of this effort by following these easy steps:

1. Contact the nearest America's Second Harvest network member food-rescue program operating.
   
   Ask for the food-rescue program transportation manager to arrange a pick-up day(s), or to establish procedures for call-in donations. This person will also be your contact for extra pick-ups and last minute supply needs. Usually the drivers carry supplies with them and are able to replenish your bags and/or pans when they do pick ups.
   
2. Once it has been determined that food at your facility will be donated to an America's Second Harvest rapid food recovery program, the following steps are taken. (Refer to our food guidelines chart for instructions on packing specific food items). 
   • Transfer food to either a bag or pan. The food-rescue organization supplies bags and sometimes pans, but if you are able to provide your own disposable packaging for donations, you help the food-rescue program use its resources more effectively. However, we don't want packaging to get in the way of your good intentions.
   • Label food with Product Name, Date & your location's name. Example: Beef Stew - 11/2/05 - Mom's Diner
   • Keep foods at proper temperatures. Food should then be either refrigerated or frozen depending on the date of your scheduled pick up. Chilled perishable food is to be below 40oF except during necessary times of preparation or while being held for service which may not exceed two hours. It is preferred that foods are frozen to maximize freshness.
   • We do not accept any products that contain alcohol.
     
3. Get a Receipt . When your donation is picked up, you will receive a receipt indicating the type of product and its weight. This information should be passed on to your accountant as there may be tax deductions/credits available to you based on your company's legal structure and geography.

Food Donation Guidelines