Help us eliminate food waste while fighting [hunger + poverty] by becoming a food donor.
Donating food to us is easy and your good acts are protected. Here are common questions and answers for businesses and individuals considering donating food to us.
Q. Am I protected if I donate food?
A. There is no danger in donating food to Waste Not Want Not. The Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act provides uniform national protection to those who act in good faith to donate, recover and distribute excess food. Likewise, Chapter 768.13 of the Florida State Statue specifically provides immunity from civil and criminal liability to food donors and to volunteers acting on behalf of charitable organizations that rescue food. The provisions of this section apply to the good faith donation of canned or perishable food regardless of whether such food is readily marketable due to appearance, freshness, grade, surplus, or other such considerations.
Q. Do you accept opened food, even if none has been eaten?
A. For the safety of our volunteers and the hungry neighbors that we feed, we are unable to accept opened items.
Q. What types of food do you accept?
A. Waste Not Want Not gratefully accepts semi-perishable (baked items, citrus and other gleaned produce) and non-perishable items if still suitable for human consumption. We also accept perishable and prepared foods maintained in safe temperature zones and chilled or frozen before being donated. Please note that prepared food must be provided by a regulated or licensed food business, such as a restaurant, caterer, wholesaler or bakery and must exclude foods previously served to the public.
Q. Can you send someone to pick up the food donation?
A. Possibly. We do not pick up from private homes. If you have food to donate once, once in a while, or urgently (or questions about a potential food donation), please call Linda McKenzie, our Volunteer Director at 904-505-5894. Because we rely heavily on volunteers, however, it may take a little time to coordinate the pickup.
Q. I had a big party with tons of food left over, can I donate it to Waste Not?
A. Possibly. We accept perishable and prepared foods maintained in safe temperature zones and chilled or frozen before being donated. Please note that prepared food must be provided by a regulated or licensed food business, such as a restaurant or caterer and must exclude food previously served to the public. If your party was catered, the food was kept at the proper temperature and it was not previously presented to guests at your party, and are in pans and sealed, then yes. We do not pick up from private homes, but you may bring the donation to us at 2050 Carnes Street, Orange Park, FL 32067.
If you have food to donate once, once in a while, or urgently (or questions about a potential food donation), please call Linda McKenzie, our Volunteer Director at 904-505-5894. If you have food to donate on a regular basis and your location is within 15 miles of Orange Park, please call or email Kelly Gentry, our Director, Mission Delivery, she can be reached at 904-810-8012. She will work with you to determine how to best put your donation to work fighting hunger!
