FAQ's

These are the questions that we more frequently get asked, maybe you have the same doubt!

How does it work?

If you are a licensed food vendor, schedule a pickup right at the door through our phone app or website by selecting a time frame that works for you. Package the food and our drivers will arrive for pickup.

Download the free app for iOS and Android devices by searching for “Food Connect” in the app store or click here to schedule a pickup
Type in your address so we know where to pick up the food
Choose the vehicle size that will fit all your surplus food
Schedule a convenient pick-up time, give us a few details about the type of food being donated and approximate pounds
Press submit

Where does the food go?

Your donations will have an immediate impact! Food donations are transported to a local meal site, food pantry, food bank, or community shelter of your choice. Food donations typically are consumed the same or next day.

Who can donate food?

Food Connect accepts perishable meal donations only from licensed food vendors in order to ensure that food donations are safe for recipient organizations.

Individuals may donate canned foods and dry goods. Schedule a pickup here

Alternatively, anyone may sponsor meals by making a monetary donation.

Food we accept:

Whole, uncut, and unpeeled fruits and vegetables
Dry, shelf-stable food in their original packaging
Cold food stored below 41°FFrozen foods stored at 0°F or lower
Unopened packaged, canned, or boxed food
Prepared hot food stored above 135°F and held at safe temperatures
Food that is not damaged or dented
Food made in a commercial kitchen or by a licensed vendor
Prepared foods that have not been on a serving line

For more information:

Download Food Donation Guidelines

Food we do not accept:

Items without a label or ingredient list
Homemade meals from individuals
Foods that have been on a serving line
Items containing alcohol
Food made in unlicensed facilities
Frozen food that has been thawed and refrozen
Damaged, compromised, or swollen food packaging
Food that doesn’t meet local safety standards
Non-food items like pet products, medicines, clothing, decorations, and household items.

For more information:

Download Food Donation Guidelines

Tips for Donors:

Do not mix food types such as meats and side dishes in one pan
Package food so that it will not be crushed or altered during transport
If possible, give at least 24-hour notice for large truck size donations

Is there a minimum food donation quantity?

We gladly accept small food donations because we can deliver those to small meal sites or shelters in your local area. Anything smaller than 5 lbs may be too small. If you are ever unsure, please contact us and we can talk through the specifics!

Is there a food maximum?

There is no limit to how much food you can donate. Food Connect can dispatch large trucks for large donations. If you think you need to schedule a very large donation, please contact us ahead of time, and we can coordinate!

What about food safety and liability?

Handling food safety is extremely important to us. Every participant in the food recovery process is expected to follow safe food handling standards set by state and federal laws: from pickup to delivery to serving. Food recipients sign a waiver releasing donors of liability. Donors are protected by the 1996 Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. The law protects good-faith donors from civil and criminal liability should the product later cause harm to recipients.

What are benefits of donating?

Reducing hunger
Diverting food waste
Building your organization’s corporate social responsibility
Giving back to your local community
Recognition for your efforts on social media
Donations are tax-deductible

We already donate food to a local organization, can I still use the app?

No problem! In our app, under “Advanced Options” you can specify the organization you typically donate to, and we will do our best to deliver the food to them.

I’m an individual. How can I donate perishable food?

We encourage you to visit findhelp.org and enter your zip code to search for nearby shelters who may be able to accept perishable food donations.

Why does it matter?

Food insecurity in households with children under 18 has increased by about 130 percent from 2018 to today (Brookings Institute, 2020). Already, 135 million people had been facing acute food shortages, but now with the pandemic, 130 million more could go hungry in 2020 according to Arif Husain, chief economist at the World Food Program, a United Nations agency. Altogether, an estimated 265 million people could be pushed to the brink of starvation by year’s end.

At the same time, food waste is the second biggest solid waste in the country (Environmental Protection Agency, 2014). Per the Environmental Protection Agency, 291,000 pounds of food is wasted monthly, making food waste the biggest occupant in America landfills. There are simple steps that we can start taking today to offset some of these trends!

How can you get started?

The amount of time it takes to throw away excess food is approximately the same amount of time it would take to package it and schedule a pickup time. Sign up to be a donor and contact us when you have surplus food!

You can also donate to sponsor meals so that we can help increase food access to those that have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.

Where do I download the app?

You can download the iOS or Android app by clicking on the below or you can schedule a pickup through our Desktop App.

iPhone

Android

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