Long Beach Recycles

FOOD DONATION FAQs

• How can my business donate unsold food to the Long Beach community?

  The City of Long Beach recommends working with a charitable organization such as Food Finders. Food Finders is a non-profit food rescue organization that strives to eliminate hunger and food waste, while improving nutrition in the communities they serve throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Food is picked up directly from your location and delivered to a nearby shelter or agency same-day.

• How does Food Finders work?

  Food Finders operates 7 days a week to pick up and deliver food donated by local vendors. Food is picked up directly from your location and delivered to a nearby shelter or agency same-day. All food must be properly stored, and Food Finders will provide transport containers if needed. Volunteers or staff drivers ensure timing of pick up so that it reaches its recipient agency in time for their next meal service or pantry distribution. Your donation can be regular or occasional, based on need.

  Current partners include grocers such as Ralphs, Albertsons and Trader Joes, bakeries, restaurants, specialty food stores, caterers, hotels, produce markets, and convention centers.

• What are the benefits of donating to Food Finders?

  There are many benefits of donating food from your business to a food recovery organization such as Food Finders:

  • Reduce waste and disposal expenses
  • Comply with local mandates on waste
  • Get a tax write-off for charitable giving (*see tax advisor)
  • Contribute to a sense of community

  Contribute to a worthwhile cause that helps feed those in need

• What food can be donated?

  Food Finders will accept food that is properly contained and deemed safe for consumption (not previously served). Food Finders will provide transport containers if needed.

• Will I be responsible if somebody gets sick from food I donated?

  Federal Law 1996 - Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act

  Each year, 14 billion pounds of food are sent to landfills. Meanwhile, nearly 30 million Americans, including 12 million children, are at risk of hunger. Potential donors most often cite fear of liability as the reason they refuse to donate to feeding programs. Before passage of the national law, all 50 states and the District of Columbia had adopted laws protecting donors. Yet, differences in language and applicability between states often discouraged national and regional companies from donating. With the national law in place, regional and national donors have the uniform language that protects them from civil and criminal liability. The law protects good faith food donors from civil and criminal liability, should the product later cause harm to its recipient.

• How can you donate to Food Finders?

  Find out more info about Donate with Food Finders and learn how to donate to Food Finders or volunteer for the organization.

• How do donations to Food Finders help in Long Beach?

  Read case studies on how Food Finders helps the local community.