Food Rescue
Have a few extra trays of catered food at your special event? Instead of throwing it all way, consider donating it to a local food rescue organization that will distribute it to food banks and shelters. America's largest food rescue organization, Second Harvest (www.secondharvest.com) distributes over one billion pounds of food per year. If you would like to make arrangements for excess food from your next special event to be donated, here are a few tips:
- Food donors are protected by the 1996 "Good Samaritan Act," which prevents people or organizations that make good-faith donations that accidentally cause illness from being liable for their donations. Ask the recipient organization (or your attorney) for details.
- Some food donations are tax-deductible. Consult your accountant for specifics.
- Some meeting planning associations have taken positions supporting having food rescue provisions written into catering contracts. Check with the organizations to which you belong for guidelines.
- Check with your caterer (or hotel) to find out if they have specific policies about food rescue or an alliance with a food rescue organization or specific shelter.
- Signing up with a food rescue organization does not mean you can't take home a few leftovers without feeling guilty! After all, trays of food that have been opened and readied for service cannot be donated.
Tthe Professional Convention Management Association (www.pcma.org) encourages planners to donate food and other perishable event products through its "Network for the Needy" program. The PCMA maintains excellent reference information on their web site.