New Zealand Food Network’s Post

🌟 Urgent Call for Support: Foodbank Needs Your Help! 🌟 In these challenging times, Foodbank is facing an unprecedented demand for assistance and urgently requires more donations to continue supporting those in need. As the backbone of food relief in our community, Foodbank plays a crucial role in ensuring that vulnerable individuals and families have access to essential food supplies. Having personally volunteered with Foodbank, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible impact they have on our community. With the rising cost of living and increasing food insecurity, now more than ever, we need to come together and support Foodbank’s mission. Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Here’s how you can help: - Donate Food: Non-perishable items such as canned goods, pasta, rice, and cereals are always in high demand. - Monetary Donations: Financial contributions allow Foodbank to purchase fresh produce and other essential items. - Volunteer: Your time and effort can help with sorting and distributing food to those in need. Let’s rally together and show our support for Foodbank. Together, we can make a positive impact and ensure that no one in our community goes hungry. #Foodbank #CommunitySupport #DonateNow #FightHunger #MakeADifference

This is an ongoing issue that many food banks across the UK are facing: an increase in demand coupled with a decrease in donations 💔 This puts many food banks in challenging positions, with some, such as Norwood & Brixton Foodbank, having to reach into their own pockets to pay for supplies when donations don’t stretch far enough to buy in the necessary stock 💸 With Bankuet, food banks receive monetary donations which they can use to request the exact items they need, when they need them. 🙌 Help keep food banks like Norwood & Brixton Foodbank stocked by supporting your local food bank through Bankuet 👉 bankuet.co.uk/givenow 

One of the most common concerns we hear from potential food donors is the fear of liability—many worry about being sued if donated food unintentionally causes harm. Some even mistakenly think donating surplus food is illegal. ⁠ ⁠ Good news 📣 ✨️ The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects individuals, businesses, and nonprofits that donate food in good faith. ⁠ ⁠ Dispelling this myth encourages more food donations and less waste. Click the link below to learn more about how this law supports food recovery and help us spread the word!⁠ https://lnkd.in/eBtsY6hh #foodrescueus #foodrecovery #fooddonation #goodsamaritan

We must accept that inventory at food and beverage (F&B) establishments (e.g. restaurants, retail grocery stores) does expire. Food service workers at restaurants must discard any inventory received within 7 days or product that was defrosted and refrosted [1, 2]. That’s even with so many F&B establishments following the Food Safety and Inspection Services’ (FSIS) guidelines. Food eventually rots, then sent to a landfill or incinerator to emit carbon dioxide and methane. The guidelines aren't helping reduce food insecurity in the US, which remains above 10% for households since 2001 [3]. The 1996 Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act intended to change that. Without criminal or civil liability (i.e. potential to be sued), F&B establishments could donate an “apparently wholesome food” or an “apparently fit grocery product" to nonprofits that would distribute it to "needy individuals" [4, 5, 6, 7]. They could only be held reliable if food service workers knew that the food wasn’t safe to eat (i.e. intentional misconduct) or didn’t check for pathogens like mold (i.e. gross negligence). Then why must I repeat that food insecurity has increased since 2001, and "up to 40% of the edible food supply ends up as food waste [and loss] [8]?" The Bill Emerson Act should make donating easy, especially when no company has been sued. There hasn't been enough education on food donation protection laws [9]. Moreover, the ambiguity of "apparently wholesome" or "apparently fit" renders civil and criminal immunity pointless. Rather than focusing on what to donate, F&B establishments focus on what won't get them in trouble. For context, Walmart’s Frank Yiannas’ team counted 47 "different" labels [10]. The 2023 Food Donation Improvement Act is a step in the right direction. It specified who qualified as a donor: retail grocers, wholesalers, agricultural producers, agricultural processors, agricultural distributors, restaurants, caterers, school food authorities, and institutions of higher education. Additionally, donors could set up a network of nonprofits, agreeing on a fixed rate to sell donated food to them: a "good Samaritan reduced price," which is not greater than making the food available for sale (e.g. handling, processing, packaging). F&B establishments could donate directly to individuals with civil and criminal immunity, too. Yiannas’ departure from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2023 indicates there’s more to be done. In his departure letter, Yiannas spoke about how the FDA is entering a "new era of smarter food safety," where it’s "bending the curve of foodborne illness once and for all” [11]. That curve must overcome 50% of food manufacturers, 25% of retail grocery stores, and 21% of restaurants feeling that liability concerns were still a barrier to donation, after being surveyed by the Food Waste Reduction Alliance in 2016 [12]. Until that curve is fully realized, however, F&B establishments won't donate. 

🍽 Supporting Those in Need Through SCCYC’s Food Aid Service 🍽 At SCCYC, we’re committed to helping those facing food insecurity and critical needs in our community. Our Food Aid Service has provided essential support to 324 people, helping families and individuals access nutritious meals and other vital resources. But the need continues to grow, and we need your help to keep making a difference. 🌟 How can you support? - Donate Vegetarian food items: Tinned goods, pasta, rice, and fresh produce all make a huge impact. - Financial contributions: Your donations help us provide food, toiletries, and resources to those who need it most. - Spread the word: Help us reach more people by sharing this post and encouraging others to get involved. Together, we can help ensure no one in our community goes without. Let’s continue to support our community in need. 📍 Donations can be dropped off at SCCYC Waterside Connect or you can contact us to arrange a collection. #FoodAid #SCCYC #CommunitySupport #EndHunger #DonateFood #Northampton #SupportLocal

📢 All donations to our Emergency Food Relief Appeal are tax deductible! (link in bio to donate) For as little as $15 a month, you can become an Addi Road supporter and help us feed the community. $15 covers 10 meals - which will go a long way in helping those struggling to put food on the table. The cost-of-living crisis making it harder on people to meet basic needs. "Demand for our Emergency Food Relief has gone up by a massive 180% just in the last few months but at Addi Road we believe food is a human right; which is why we're committed to providing as much help as possible. * We do this with minimal government support and we rely on donations - both large and small - from people like you to help us do this vital work. *We have fed thousands of people across the state and we don't turn people away or ask for proof of need. Help us support the community by donating here: https://lnkd.in/gUAkEXCW We assure you, your money will not go to waste. #AddiRoad #EmergencyFoodRelief #Marrickville #Innerwest #innerwestsyd #innerwestsydney #camperdown #costofliving #costoflivingcrisis #foodjustice #foodrelief

In our 2023 Annual Report, we take a look at trends at FISH over the past few years, particularly comparing pre-pandemic numbers to today. What we are seeing is continued growth in need, as the high cost of living paired with fewer support resources adds more and more strain for families. One area in which we have seen considerable increases is the pounds of food we distribute each year. In 2023, FISH distributed 1,560,603 pounds of food, more than any other year in our history as an organization. Our marketplace could not run without the generous support of our community. We source food from four main sources: donations from our Broomfield grocery stores and restaurant partners, Community Food Share, in-kind donations from our neighbors (which includes food drives!), and purchased food made possible by our incredible donors and by grant funding. All of these support networks allow us to stock a variety of food and personal care items for our families so they can shop for what their families need. Learn more about our work and recent trends at bit.ly/FISH23Report. #FoodBank #FamilyResourceCenter #Trends #AnnualReport

Calling all businesses with surplus food! 🥕🍅 Have you heard about our online platform where you can register your surplus food ready for charities and community groups to collect from you? We can connect you and your surplus food to charities who need it. DM us or email info@planzheroes.org to learn how you can be a Zero Food Waste Hero!

Today is National Food Bank Day and it serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role food banks play in our communities. They are essential lifelines, working tirelessly to combat hunger and provide critical support to those in need. But their efforts rely on us—each and every one of us—to step up and make a difference. Here’s how you can make a meaningful impact today: 1. Donate: If you have the means, contribute financially to your local food bank. Even a small donation can help them purchase the most needed items and cover operational costs. 2. Give Food: Drop off non-perishable food items at designated collection points. Consider high-demand items like canned goods, pasta, and cereal. Often food banks will have a list of their most in-demand items. 3. Volunteer: Offer your time and skills. Food banks are always in need of extra hands to sort donations, pack food boxes, and distribute meals. 4. Spread the Word: Share information about National Food Bank Day and the importance of food banks with your network. The more people know, the more support these organizations can receive. 5. Organize a Drive: Rally your friends, family, or workplace to host a food drive. It’s a great way to gather a larger amount of donations, raise awareness, and come together around a good cause. Remember, every contribution counts, no matter how small, and can significantly impact someone’s life. Let’s come together to ensure everyone has access to the food they need. #NationalFoodBankDay #FightHunger #GiveBack #CommunitySupport