Help others, reduce food waste. Donate!

Donated food goes to people instead of landfills.

Hands holding a box full of food for donation, including apples, bananas and canned goods
Three arms reaching up holding packaged food that can be donated.

Give back to your community

  1. Find a hunger relief organization near you.
  2. Put together items you want to donate. Even a few things go a long way.
  3. Establish a regular drop off schedule and ask the pantry what food items clients need most.
  4. Volunteer!
  5. Launch a food drive where you work or live.

Food donation basics

Do donate:

  • Fresh produce: both home-grown and purchased.
  • Foods prepared by licensed food establishments or in donor kitchens.
  • Shelf-stable foods.
  • Foods from licensed processors.
  • Check with your local food pantry for more specifics.

Don't donate:

  • Foods with safety concerns.
  • Foods in soiled, torn, open, or rusted containers.
  • Home-prepared foods (except baked goods).
  • Foods with an “off” odor.
  • Perishable foods past a “Use By” date, unless frozen.

If food is spoiled, it is not safe to eat or donate...

Donate food in your community

Use Washington 211 to contact an emergency food organization near you.

Illustration of food cans, boxes, and containers awaiting donation.

What other options do I have for unavoidable surplus food?

Checklist of foods to donate on a clipboard

Prevent wasted food

Plan like a pro with these tips and guides!

Plan, shop, and save
Illustration of a green bag of chicken feed with yellow feed visible at top

Help farmers

Turn wasted food into animal feed.

Feed livestock
Illustration of plants and food for compost bin

Composting

Be a climate hero!

Learn to compost

Now you're really helping. Here are more ways to reduce waste.