Donating to Food Pantries

Donating non-perishable and unspoiled perishable food helps stock the shelves at food banks, soup kitchens, pantries and shelters and keeps perfectly otherwise good food from ending up in landfills. Donations of perishable food from places such as restaurants, commercial kitchens and other institutions also help families in need and require special handling and coordination for timely distribution. Donations from farmers and gleaners are also ways to provide healthy food to those in need.

The act of donating food by institutions, organizations, individuals and gleaners when acting in good faith are protected by The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 from liability for injuries arising from the consumption of the donated food.