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!

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?

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

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

FL DEPT OF HEALTH

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

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.