In order to receive the protections of the Emerson Act, donors must donate “qualifying” types of food. Qualifying products are “apparently wholesome foods” or “apparently fit grocery products” and meet “all quality and labeling standards imposed by Federal, State, and local laws and regulations,” even if they are not “readily marketable due to appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, surplus, or other conditions.”

With that being said, you can donate perishable & non-perishable food items, fresh produce, dairy products, toiletries, pet food, non-alcoholic beverages and other essential items. It's important to ensure that all items are unopened, within their expiration date, and stored in appropriate conditions. Here’s a list of acceptable items:

Acceptable items:

---------

✓ Fresh Produce

✓ Bread and Pastries

✓ Electrolyte Drinks

✓ Milk, Eggs, Yogurt

✓ Dry foods

✓ Pasta

✓ Canned Soup

✓ Prepackaged Labeled Meals

✓ Hygiene Products

✓ Diapers

✓ Feminine Products

Unacceptable Items:

---------

✘ Alcohol or Drugs

✘ Raw Meat or Fish

✘ Unlabeled or Expired Food items

✘ Rotting or Moldy food

✘ Open Food Containers

✘ Leftovers

✘. Large/small Food Trays

✘ Clothing Donations

✘ Homemade Food

Yes, although we are unincorporated we have a fiscal sponsor and can provide end-of-year receipts for businesses that donate Food, Fridges, Funds, Materials and other essentials to us.

Yes. We understand that not everyone has access to reliable transportation, the ability to drive and pick up or drop off donations due to busy schedules and other working class challenges. This is why we will happily pick up or drop off items (if available) directly to you.

Not at all. Anyone is welcome to take what they need and leave what they don't. Please read through the entire FAQ before dropping food off.

You can get involved by sponsoring us, donating food, and other essential items, volunteering your time to help organize and maintain the fridge & pantry, and spreading the word about the project in your community so that we can expand. We are powered by Mutual Aid so any and all support is welcomed, check out our volunteer form to see if any of our needs suit your skill set.  Click here to be redirected to the form.

Food donations must be made in good faith, and protection will not apply if the food donor or nonprofit organization acts with gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Gross negligence means the donor took actions they knew were “likely to be harmful to the health or well-being of another person,” and intentional misconduct means the donor knows the conduct “is harmful to the health or well-being of another person.” It should be noted that even if a donation is not covered by the Emerson Act, it is not illegal to donate or accept that donation. It only means that the parties to the donation will not be afforded federal liability protections if someone were to pursue a legal action against them. Furthermore, state laws may provide additional liability protections.

In January 2023, the Food Donation Improvement Act (FDIA) was signed into law. The bill was passed with help from the Zero Food Waste Coalition, the Healthy Living Coalition, and a groundswell of food rescue organizations and food businesses. The FDIA updates the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act to expand liability protections for food in two new important ways: Liability protections now cover nonprofit organizations and others that provide donated food products at a low price (an amount that covers the cost of handling, administering, and distributing the food). This means that food pantries and other food distribution sites have the option to charge a small amount of money for food to help cover their operational costs. Liability protections now cover qualified direct donors (e.g. schools, restaurants, caterers, grocery stores, farmers) who donate good food directly to individuals or groups other than nonprofits. Previously, liability protections were only afforded to qualified donors if they donated the food via a 501c3 organization.

Yes, please see our safety policy rules below:

✦ Check the date: Always check the expiration date on all food items before taking them. If you're not sure whether an item is still safe to consume, be on the side of caution and don't take it.

✦ Inspect the packaging: Look for signs of damage, such as dents, bulges, or tears, on cans, boxes, and other packaging. If a package is damaged or open, don't take the item.

✦ Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands before and after handling food from the fridge or pantry. If possible, use hand sanitizer before and after taking food as an additional precaution.

✦ Keep it clean: Be mindful of cleanliness when taking or leaving food. Don't leave any trash or litter behind, and wipe up any spills or messes you make.

✦ Follow storage instructions: If an item has specific storage instructions, such as "refrigerate after opening," be sure to follow them to ensure the food stays safe to eat.

✦ Please don't take more than you need: Although we do not police how much anyone takes, we ask that you be mindful of other people who may also need items from the fridge or pantry, and only take what you need for yourself or your family.

✦ If in doubt, throw it out: If you're unsure whether a food item is safe to consume, or if you suspect it may have been tampered with or contaminated, it's better to throw it out than risk getting sick.

✦ Help us help you: If you see something that goes against our Safety Policy, like rotting or expired items, anything that doesn't belong inside the fridge or pantry, help us by throwing it away. You can also contact us to report any issues that you don't feel comfortable handling. We are volunteer-led, so we can always use the extra help from community members (like you!)