There are millions of people in the United States and other countries that are in need of a meal. Children are going to school hungry, and families are going to bed hungry. Donating food to the underprivileged is rewarding as well as simple—and this is easy to do if you’re a restaurant. You only want to serve the freshest food to your customers, but you know that the food from the day before is still quality. This makes donating this food extremely important.
Different Ways Your Restaurant Can Donate Leftover Food
Below are a few ideas on how you can donate food to the homeless, and make a huge difference in the lives of many people. Some of who may be your own neighbor.
- Food Banks – Every community has a local food bank that collects food for the people who need it most. This is a simple way to donate non-perishable foods along with other things that are needed, such as medical goods, paper goods, personal hygiene products and diapers. Check your local community outreach programs for food banks that are in your neighborhood.
- Grocery Stores – Most big chain grocery stores also have a great and easy way to donate food. They have bins in the front of the store for you to put your donations in. What could be simpler than picking up items for the homeless while shopping for your own groceries? They then distribute these donated goods to local shelters. Do this in your restaurant, and then add your own leftover foods to the pile.
- Food Drive – Organizing a food drive in your community is a fun way to get the whole community involved in donating food. Ask a local firehouse or church to get involved by donating their parking lots where people can simply drop off their donated food items. Then, your restaurant can match the donations. These items can then be sorted and brought to your local shelter.
- Get Friends Involved – If it’s the help that you need, ask family and friends. In many cases they will be happy to help, and you’ll still have enough people on staff to keep the restaurant running.
Give your local shelter and phone call, and ask how you can help. Shelters are always in need of volunteers, and will welcome you with open arms. It’s alarming, but 1 in 7 households don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Make a difference in your community, and donate your time and or items to those who need it most.
Jackie White is a professional blogger that writes on a variety of topics including restaurant reviews. She writes for Restaurants.com, a leading directory of restaurant reviews.