Retail Donations

Retail Partners

Our retail store program reaches six counties serving over 160 member agencies and 100 partners. In 2018, retail stores donated 2,100,000 pounds of food to families. Donations from stores matched directly with our partner agencies are distributed directly to families. If you’re a retail store with food to donate, know that your donations can be a cost-effective solution to inventory challenges, storage limitations, high transportation fees and waste disposal costs.

Benefits of Partnering with the Food Bank of the Southern Tier

Saves disposal costs of unsaleable food
There is no transportation fee food is picked up free of charge
Valuable floor space is not wasted with storage of surplus food
Your brand integrity is maintained through approved and monitored community social service agencies
Product inventory is tracked in case of product recall
The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects you from civil and criminal liability

Check out our generous current retail donors below

Items we Accept

Your company has an important choice! Redirect your surplus/unsaleable products from a landfill and participate in an alternative that exists to feed your neighbors in need. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier provides a valuable option even when compared to the secondary market. Consider these possibilities for donation:

Close to code items; uut of code with extended use-by dates
Discontinued items; Mislabeled items
Unlabeled items; Test product inventory
Off-spec items; Packaging changes
Partial cases; Promotional or seasonal items
Overruns; Bulk or food service size
Prepared and perishable items; Customer returns or refusals
Reclamation or salvage products; Private label items and more

No Donation Goes to Waste

What’s the best reason to donate? You’re helping neighbors facing hunger put healthy meals on their tables!

It’s Easy To Get Started

When considering a donation of surplus or unsaleable product, contact the Food Bank of the Southern Tier for donation assistance. We can simplify the process by helping you do the following:

Determine types of food or grocery product that can be donated
Discuss frequency of donations
Design a product pickup schedule that is convenient
Consider what receipts and acknowledgements are needed
Discuss any concerns that you may have
Plan a tour of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s warehouse facility

More Ways To Help

Sometimes donating product is just the first step; we have many opportunities for Corporate Partners to do more to help us end hunger that engage your employees, build team spirit, and demonstrate your community engagement. The Food Bank of the Southern Tier could use your support with: