STARTING A FOOD DONATION PROGRAM

STARTING A

FOOD DONATION PROGRAM

Thinking of implementing a food donation program at your school?

Below are five simple steps to begin building your school’s food donation program today!

STEP 1:

REVIEW IMPORTANT INFO

USDA memo allowing for the donation of USDA foods (regardless of program) to non-profit agencies (i.e. food pantries and soup kitchens):

USDA MEMO

Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act: Providing protection to food donors:

GOOD SAMARITAN FOOD DONATION ACT

The Why Reduce Food Waste in Schools?

WHY REDUCE FOOD WASTE IN SCHOOLS?

STEP 2:

CONTACT

Contact your Food Service Director to discuss your plans for developing a food waste diversion program together. Bring copies of the USDA memo as well as a copy of the Why Reduce Food Waste in Schools?

View An Open Letter to School Administrators:

OPEN LETTER

STEP 3:

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Reach out to your local health department for additional guidelines on how to donate food to a non-profit organization.

FL DEPT OF HEALTH

STEP 4:

MEET

Arrange a meeting between the school and a local non-profit food pantry to discuss important logistics, such as scheduling regular pickups that are convenient for your school cafeteria’s staff.

The school district and/or health department may also want you to have an agreement with the non-profit you wish to work with.

Examples Agreements are available upon request from FDACS.

EMAIL FDACS

STEP 5:

SCHOOL DISTRICT

Bring your plan to the school district for approval. The school district can then make food donations from your school (or all schools) an official district policy.