Food Donation Connection

Food Donation Connection (FDC), LLC is a privately owned American company that serves as a liaison between restaurants/food service companies interested in donating surplus food and local social service agencies that distribute food to people in need.[1] FDC's objective is to redirect prepared food that would otherwise be discarded to help feed the hungry.

Food Donation Connection, LLC
TypeLLC
Founded1992
FounderBill Reighard
Headquarters
Knoxville, Tennessee
,
USA
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Bill Reighard, President
ServicesCoordination of prepared, perishable food donations
OwnerBill Reighard
Number of employees
40 (2012)
Websitehttp://www.foodtodonate.com

The company was founded in 1992 by Bill Reighard, a former restaurant executive.[2] Its operations and Harvest Support call center are located in Knoxville, Tennessee.[3] FDC assists food service companies by developing and implementing Harvest Food Donation Programs tailored to provide an alternative to wasting surplus prepared food.[4]

FDC coordinates donations from client donors such as restaurants, college campuses, airports, and hospitals to food rescue agencies across the U.S., Canada, and some overseas locations.[5]

In 2011, FDC coordinated the donation of 35 million pounds of wholesome, surplus prepared food from 248 food service businesses (including 13,880 restaurants or donor locations) to 7,908 local non-profit hunger relief organizations.[3][6]

FDC supports its agency partners by analyzing their current needs and connecting them with suitable food service businesses that can provide donations of surplus, perishable, prepared food. This enables recipient agencies to focus their resources on fulfilling their core mission instead of spending them on purchasing and preparing food.

Food Donation Connection does not compete with non-profits for funding from government and private sources. Instead FDC's funding is derived from a percentage of the incremental tax savings of donor partners resulting from the proper donation of surplus food. Donors who make efforts to store and donate surplus food correctly are rewarded with opportunities to engage in their local communities, build corporate goodwill, boost employee morale, realize potential tax savings, and reduce their carbon footprint.[7]

The Harvest Support Network (HSN) was established as a non-profit organization by FDC to provide services that complement the processes of recipient agencies. However, HSN no longer accepts public donations and has ceased its legal designation as a 501(c)(3) charity. The responsibilities of supporting these activities have been absorbed by FDC and other interested parties who aim to support those serving the hungry. The decision to change the legal designation was primarily due to the additional resources required for fundraising not justifying the non-profit status.[8]

HSN's mission is to provide systems and operational support to 501(c)(3) food banks and other charitable entities, allowing them to allocate their limited resources to their designated non-profit purposes.[9] HSN offers training materials, scheduling and tracking systems, and tools that enable agencies to better match their needs with volunteer interests. These services further enhance the ability of non-profits to fulfill their individual missions and operate more efficiently.

Partnerships and Civic Involvement

In 2009, FDC forged a formal partnership with the National Restaurant Association to promote awareness of alternatives to overwhelming landfills with discarded surplus food, with the shared goal of, “...relieving hunger and reducing food waste in America.”[10][11]

The company is actively engaged in advocating for legislation such as the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996, which safeguards well-intentioned donors from civil and criminal liability.[12][13][14] FDC also supports donation tax laws that enhance incentives for food donors and facilitate increased donations, regardless of scale.[15][16]

Donor Partners

As of 2012, FDC actively coordinates Harvest Food Donation Programs for 248 companies, including renowned restaurants and food service companies such as:[5]

Harvest Recipient Partners

As of 2012, FDC actively coordinates the donation of surplus, wholesome prepared food to benefit more than 7,900 local agencies. These agencies encompass a wide range of organizations, including homeless shelters, teen homes, after-school programs, crisis shelters for women and children, soup kitchens, emergency food pantries, and food rescue organizations.[5]

See also

References
  1. Dalenberg, A. (9 December 2010). "Restaurants help supply sustenance to hungry". Arizona Daily Star, A11. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  2. "Merlin WebMaster4 Authentication Error". alb.merlinone.net.
  3. "About". foodtodonate.
  4. "Larson, J. (28 October 2009). Turn surplus food into tax savings to help end hunger. National Restaurant Association webinar presentation" (PDF).
  5. Food Donation Connection website. www.foodtodonate.com
  6. Darden Restaurants website (2012). "Employee Engagement". Darden Restaurants. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  7. "National Restaurant Association. (14 April 2011). Donating excess food can save dollars". Archived from the original on November 10, 2011.
  8. "Harvest Support Network home". www.harvestsupportnetwork.org.
  9. "Harvest Support Network home". www.harvestsupportnetwork.org.
  10. States News Service. (Sue Hensley & Annika Stensson). (14 September 2009). National Restaurant Association announces partnership to relieve hunger and reduce food waste in America. Archived 2010-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "National Restaurant Association. (2011). Sustainability/ Recycling brochure" (PDF).
  12. Burros, Marian (December 11, 1996). "Eating Well" – via NYTimes.com.
  13. "U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources & Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, 107th Congress, First Session. (14 June 2001). Hearing on H.R. 7, The "Community Solutions Act of 2001," Statement of Bill Reighard, President, Food Donation Connection, Newport, Virginia".
  14. Archived 2012-12-16 at the Wayback Machine
  15. "U.S. Congressional Record. (March 18, 2011). House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures" (PDF).
  16. Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc. (20 December 2011). Congressmen Davis and Levin introduce bipartisan food donation bill – Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) News Release. Congressional Documents & Publications.
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