ResQ2Feed Logo
Donate
ResQ2Feed Logo
Donate

Donate Food

Learn More

“Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted” John 6:12

No matter how big or small,
every donation partner makes an impact.

Our generous donor partners come from every corner of the food industry. We gratefully accept donations from:

  • Food distributors and wholesalers
  • Local grocery stores and specialty markets
  • Restaurant groups and chains
  • Corporate cafeterias and Schools
  • Farms
  • Fellow nonprofit organizations
    •  

Together, these partnerships help reduce food waste while feeding our community.

DON’T THROW AWAY: GIVE AWAY!

Getting food to the people who need it most starts with our food donors. From food distributors and grocery stores with good meat, dairy or produce, to local event venues with prepared food left over from events, to restaurants with excess as menus change, to school and corporate cafeterias, and even large loads of food turned away at a dock, every donation large or small has the power to make a huge impact.
Become a Food Donor

FOOD DONORS BENEFIT, TOO

Being part of the ResQ2Feed Oneida County mission feels good, but it also provides food donors with:

  • An easy, reliable way to deliver food to agencies that need it – at no cost.
  • The opportunity to keep food out of landfills, where it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Flexibility in donating: No need to drop off your food donation. Set up recurring donations or a one-time pickup.
  • Tax benefits.
Become a Food Donor

Food Donation Guidelines

Please see below for our general policies on accepted food. You can read more about food safety and your protection as a donor under the Good Samaritan Act here.

We accept:

  • Fruits & Produce that is whole and uncut, or cut and stored according to ServSafe guidelines.
  • Meat that has been frozen by or before its expiration date.
  • Frozen food
  • Dairy up to 3-5 days past expiration date.
  • Unopened packaged food such as cheese, lunch meat, bread and dry goods.
  • Prepared food from a commercial kitchen that has been kept according to ServSafe guidelines
  • Non-food: We accept some non-food donations. Please contact us to learn more.

We do NOT accept:

  • Food from personal households.
  • Food that is overly stale or shows signs of mold or rot.
  • Meat that has been thawed and refrozen.
  • Opened and partially used boxes or bags of food.
  • Alcohol.

If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t donate it!

BECOME A FOOD DONOR

Keep good food out of the landfill and feed struggling families in our community! All our partners are protected from liability by the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act.

Please fill out our online donation form or send an email to
donate@resq2feed.org. Or call us at (315)-580-5328.

Donor Registration Form

Become a Food Donor

FOOD DONOR FAQs

Rescued food is perfectly edible food that would otherwise go to waste.

Food insecurity is not a supply and demand issue…it’s a supply chain issue!  40% of the food produced in the US, goes to waste while 1 in 7 people go hungry.  It’s not that we do not have enough food, it’s simply that good food is ending up in landfills rather than on tables. ResQ2Feed Oneida County aims to prevent this waste and improve food access for our neighbors.

First of all, that’s great…we’re happy to hear that you’re already doing your part to minimize food waste and feed our neighbors!

Secondly, we aim to collaborate, not compete!  We respect your existing relationships and processes. If it helps, we can adopt the logistics and continue managing your current donations providing you with timely reports on the impact you’re making in the community.

Lastly, we’d love to help rescue any additional food you may have-whether it’s on days without current pickup arrangements, or types of food you aren’t currently donating such as dairy products, prepared meals or grab ‘n’ go platters. No amount is too small!

We’re a volunteer-driven transportation solution that coordinates food rescues through our Food Rescue Hero mobile app. Food donations are entered into the app, which notifies volunteers  when and where to pick up the donation. Volunteers claim the rescue and deliver the food directly to a matched Not for Profit Partner.

We accept surplus food donations from any business or institution—grocery stores, restaurants, schools, caterers, farms, and more. The only place we don’t pickup from is private homes.

Any food that is edible and has been stored safely.

Yes! We work with volunteers and use technology to track how long food is in transit, ensuring that it reaches our Not for Profit Partners in time to be safely served or stored. We also use ServSafe processes and have ServSafe certified individuals in our network.

There are two options:

  • Repeating rescues: If you know when you’ll have surplus food on a regular basis, we can schedule rescues in advance on a day and time that works best for you.
  • One-time rescues: If you have unexpected surplus food, contact us and we’ll arrange a pickup as soon as possible.

Yes, we can provide your business with detailed rescue information on the food you’ve donated including weight, meal equivalents and number of rescues.

We can totally understand but you don’t need to be and here’s why:

  • The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act – protects food donors and recipients from civil and criminal liability if the food was donated in good faith and was not knowingly unsafe or spoiled at the time of donation.
  • Food Donation Improvement Act - strengthens and extends protections from the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act to food donations made directly to individuals, as long as the donations are free and made in good faith.