Food Donation Connection
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| Company type | LLC |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Bill Reighard |
| Headquarters | Knoxville, Tennessee , USA |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Bill Reighard, President |
| Services | Coordination of prepared, perishable food donations |
| Owner | Bill Reighard |
Number of employees | 40 (2012) |
| Website | http://www.foodtodonate.com |
Food Donation Connection (FDC), LLC headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a privately owned American company facilitating the donation process between restaurants/food service companies with surplus food and local social service agencies that distribute food to those in need.[1] FDC's primary goal is to redirect prepared food that would otherwise be discarded towards feeding individuals facing hunger.
Founded in 1992 by Bill Reighard, a former restaurant executive,[2] Food Donation Connection (FDC) operates primarily from its headquarters and Harvest Support call center situated in Knoxville, Tennessee.[3] FDC aids food service companies by creating and executing Harvest Food Donation Programs designed to offer an alternative to disposing of surplus prepared food.[4]
FDC facilitates the coordination of donations from client donors, including restaurants, college campuses, airports, and hospitals, to food rescue agencies across the United States, Canada, and select overseas locations.[5]
In 2011, FDC coordinated the donation of 35 million pounds of surplus prepared food from 248 food service businesses, which included 13,880 restaurants or donor locations, to 7,908 local non-profit hunger relief organizations.[3][6]
FDC assists its agency partners by assessing their current requirements and linking them with appropriate food service businesses capable of donating surplus, perishable, prepared food. This allows recipient agencies to allocate their resources towards fulfilling their primary mission rather than expending them on acquiring and preparing food.
Food Donation Connection does not seek funding from government and private sources in competition with non-profits. Instead, FDC's funding is generated from a percentage of the incremental tax savings experienced by donor partners as a result of properly donating surplus food. Donors who responsibly store and donate surplus food are afforded opportunities to participate in their local communities, foster corporate goodwill, enhance employee morale, realize potential tax benefits, and decrease their carbon footprint.[7]
The Harvest Support Network (HSN) was initially established as a non-profit organization by FDC to offer services that complement the operations of recipient agencies. However, HSN has discontinued accepting public donations and has relinquished its legal designation as a 501(c)(3) charity. The duties of supporting these activities have been assumed by FDC and other interested parties committed to assisting those serving individuals in need. The decision to alter the legal designation was primarily driven by the realization that the resources required for fundraising did not justify maintaining non-profit status.[8]
HSN's mission is to furnish systems and operational assistance to 501(c)(3) food banks and other charitable entities, enabling them to allocate their resources to their designated non-profit objectives.[8] HSN provides training materials, scheduling and tracking systems, and tools that facilitate agencies in aligning their needs with volunteer interests. These services augment the capacity of non-profits to pursue their respective missions and operate with greater efficiency.
Partnerships and Civic Involvement[edit]
In 2009, FDC established a formal partnership with the National Restaurant Association to raise awareness about alternatives to disposing of surplus food in landfills. Both organizations share the common objective of alleviating hunger and minimizing food waste in America.[9][10]
The company is actively involved in advocating for legislation such as the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996, which protects well-intentioned donors from civil and criminal liability.[11][12][13] FDC also advocates for donation tax laws that improve incentives for food donors and facilitate increased donations, regardless of scale.[14][15]
Donor Partners[edit]
As of 2012, FDC coordinates Harvest Food Donation Programs for 248 companies, which include various restaurants and food service companies. Including:[5]
- ARAMARK
- Auntie Anne's
- Bob Evans Restaurants
- Brinker International
- Caribou Coffee
- Chipotle Mexican Grill
- Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen)
- Famous Dave's
- HMSHost
- NPC International
- Papa John's Pizza
- Red Lobster
- Starbucks
- Yum! Brands (Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell, The Habit Burger Grill)
- Wawa
- Whole Foods
Harvest Recipient Partners[edit]
As of 2012, FDC actively facilitates the donation of surplus, wholesome prepared food to benefit over 7,900 local agencies. These agencies represent a diverse array 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[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Dalenberg, A. (9 December 2010). "Restaurants help supply sustenance to hungry". Arizona Daily Star, A11. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- ^ "Merlin WebMaster4 Authentication Error". alb.merlinone.net.
- ^ a b "About". foodtodonate.
- ^ "Larson, J. (28 October 2009). Turn surplus food into tax savings to help end hunger. National Restaurant Association webinar presentation" (PDF).
- ^ a b c Food Donation Connection website. www.foodtodonate.com
- ^ Darden Restaurants website (2012). "Employee Engagement". Darden Restaurants. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- ^ "National Restaurant Association. (14 April 2011). Donating excess food can save dollars". Archived from the original on November 10, 2011.
- ^ a b "Harvest Support Network home". www.harvestsupportnetwork.org.
- ^ 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
- ^ "National Restaurant Association. (2011). Sustainability/ Recycling brochure" (PDF).
- ^ Burros, Marian (December 11, 1996). "Eating Well" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "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".
- ^ [1]Archived 2012-12-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "U.S. Congressional Record. (March 18, 2011). House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
- ^ "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". Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.