how to donate duck meat to homeless

How to donate food to a homeless shelter?

Donations. Donating wholesome food for human consumption diverts food waste from landfills and puts food on the table for families in need. Donations of nonperishable and unspoiled perishable food from homes and businesses help stock the shelves at food banks, soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters.

What kind of food do homeless people eat?

Mar 04, 2020 · The Lucky Duck Foundation is committed to raising awareness and funds to help alleviate the homelessness epidemic in San Diego County; and providing support and relief from harsh conditions to the thousands of homeless individuals and families living on our streets. The Lucky Duck Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID 20 ...

What happens to food donated to food banks?

Dec 13, 2019 · Food pantries provide food to families experiencing food insecurity, and accept canned and boxed goods with distant expiration dates that don't require refrigeration. Soup kitchens provide meals for the homeless on a daily basis, and frequently need food donations and volunteer servers and cooks.

Do shelters use edible donations?

Dec 12, 2019 · Food is a welcome donation at many homeless shelters, as the need to feed individuals exists on a continual basis. While all shelters use food, the types of edible donations they accept varies from one organization and location to the next. Call in advance to ask a knowledgeable shelter representative whether they ...

New Program to Provide Food and Water to the Unsheltered

SAN DIEGO, CA –June 10, 2020: The Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF) today announced a County-wide effort to distribute food and water to San Diego’s unsheltered homeless population. Because many community and congregate meal services have ceased due to COVID-19, many individuals experiencing homelessness are struggling to secure food and water.

Local Philanthropist Gwendolyn Sontheim and Lucky Duck Foundation Launch Program to Provide Food and Water to Unsheltered Homeless San Diegans

SAN DIEGO, CA –June 10, 2020: The Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF) today announced a County-wide effort to distribute food and water to San Diego’s unsheltered homeless population. Because many community and congregate meal services have ceased due to COVID-19, many individuals experiencing homelessness are struggling to secure food and water.

Donations

Donating wholesome food for human consumption diverts food waste from landfills and puts food on the table for families in need.

Federal provisions to encourage food donation

The federal government has established three notable provisions to encourage the donation of wholesome food to those in need:

Limited liability protection for donors

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 (PDF, 207 KB) encourages the donation of food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations for distribution to needy individuals.

Enhanced tax deductions

The Internal Revenue Code 170 (e) (3) (PDF, 253 KB) of 2011 provides enhanced tax deductions to businesses to encourage donations of fit and wholesome food to qualified nonprofit organizations serving the poor and needy.

Federal agencies and donations

The U.S. Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 (PDF, 142 KB) specifies procurement contract language that encourages federal agencies and contractors to donate excess wholesome food to eligible nonprofit organizations to feed food-insecure people in the United States.

Anyone can be a food donor

Anyone can donate food, including farmers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, cruise ships, and households, just to name a few.

Places to donate food

There are food recipient organizations across the country. The following sites offer tools to help donors find nearby food banks, pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that may accept wholesome, excess food.

My 15 Minute Conversation With a Man Named Henry

Lucky Duck Foundation intern, Gabby, shared a recent experience she had with a man named Henry. You can learn more about Gabby here and read on to hear about Henry.

Learning How to Talk to Homeless People

As I began to inquire about what he needed and how I could be of help, he began looking around at all the restaurants in the shopping center down the street from USD. He said, “I am just so hungry, all I want is something to eat.” And, he continued to voice his hunger repeatedly, as if he felt that he had to really prove it.

About Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is a measure of people's ability to access healthy food on a regular basis. The homeless almost always struggle with food insecurity.

Donation Options

Food pantries provide food to families experiencing food insecurity, and accept canned and boxed goods with distant expiration dates that don't require refrigeration. Soup kitchens provide meals for the homeless on a daily basis, and frequently need food donations and volunteer servers and cooks.

Food Recommendations

Healthy food can help the homeless combat the nutritional and caloric deficiencies they frequently experience. Ensure that food is not expired and offers a healthy, balanced meal. Non-perishable Items such as cereal, baby food, and canned goods are best.

Donation Tips

If you donate money to fund food programs to a qualified non-profit organization, you are generally eligible for a tax deduction. You may also be eligible for a tax deduction in an amount equal to the cost of donated food. Ask the organization for a receipt when you donate.

Non-Perishable Product Donations

Of all the types of edible donations accepted by homeless shelters, non-perishable products are the most widely accepted and used. Non-perishable products include those in boxes, cans or sealed bags, such as uncooked pasta and canned fruits and vegetables.

Fresh Fare

Fresh produce is a welcome yet rare treat in some shelters, as many serve meals comprised largely of non-perishable food products. Not all shelters accept fresh produce, such as homegrown vegetables or items left over after a farmer's market.

Cold Cuisine

Items requiring refrigeration or freezing may not be accepted by a shelter, as refrigerator and freezer space is often limited. Call several shelters in your area until you find one that accepts such donations.

Tips for Successful Food Donations

Group together multiple food items to donate, rather than offering just one small package of pancake mix which will not go very far if the shelter feeds more than 100 people per day.

Organize a Food Drive

A food drive turns food donation into a community effort. Ask local businesses and organizations if you may place collection boxes within their buildings so others can chip in. Tape a sign to each box indicating why the food is being collected and whom it will benefit -- typically, a local shelter or organization that serves free meals.

Bread Bonanza

Talk to the managers at local bakeries and grocery-store bakery departments, asking what they do with their unsold breads and fresh-baked goods at the end of each day.

Produce Power

Many organizations that feed the homeless and underprivileged greatly appreciate fresh produce since a majority of the donations such places receive consists of non-perishable or pre-packaged items instead of fresh food.

Get Growing

If space allows, or if you have a patio and can garden in containers, grow food with the intent to share it with the hungry. Ask other gardeners in your neighborhood -- especially at community garden sites -- to help your efforts.

Create or Join a Movement

Start your own free-food movement by telling others in your community about it, or by joining an effort already in place such as HashtagLunchbag.

Food

Food donations to homeless shelters come with rules, which vary by location. Many shelters only take nonperishable food items with clear expiration dates, such as canned vegetables with dates printed somewhere on the can. You'll need to contact local shelters to determine which types of food donations they accept.

Personal Care Items

Homeless shelters often request personal care items so they can distribute the items to people living in the shelter. These items include toothbrushes, toothpaste, plastic bandages, dental floss, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, nail clippers, baby wipes and even some over-the-counter medicines, such as cortisone creams.

Clothing and Linens

People often donate old clothing and bed linens to other large charity organizations, but homeless shelters need clothing to distribute to people they help. Shirts, pants, jackets, sweaters, scarves and gloves in all styles and sizes are usually accepted at a homeless shelter.

Toys and Games

Homeless children in shelters often have few personal possessions, including toys and board games. Some shelters that accept families take donated toys and games so the children have something to play with while they're staying in the shelter. An adult-only shelter might accept donated board games, as adults play these games as well.

Time

If you don't have any items to donate or want to do more, you can volunteer at the homeless shelter in your area. Positions vary by shelter, but your local shelter might need people to coordinate drives or help prepare meals and hand out items.