Who donates to the Food-Bank?
A variety of organizations donate to the Food-Bank, including food manufacturers and brokers, wholesalers, supermarkets, retailers, farmers, bakeries, and gardeners. Individuals, businesses and community organizations also support the Food-Bank through food drives.
Why types of food are donated?
Donated items include discontinued products, frozen foods, dairy products, mislabeled goods, damaged products, day-old breads and pastries, and perishable produce. The Food-Bank always accepts good product as well.
What items does the Food-Bank need most?
- Canned vegetables Rice/pasta
- Plastic shopping bags
- Canned meat/tuna Butter
- Canned fruit
- Peanut Butter
- Dairy products
- Juices/beverages
- Bread/bakery
- Produce
- Cereals
- Toilet paper/towels
What are the Food-Bank’s food donation guidelines?
The Food-Bank gratefully accepts perishable foods maintained in safe temperature zones. Following are food donation guidelines for fresh, refrigerated, frozen, and prepared foods.
The Food-Bank gratefully accepts donations that are:
- Maintained at a safe temperature
- Within code date
- Kept in food-safe containers
- Stored separately from chemicals and cleaners
- Labeled with the manufacturer’s name, address and ingredient list
- Placed in securely-closed packages to avoid spillage
- Alcohol-free
- Free of opened, punctured, damaged, or bulging packaging
Is there a liability to donating food?
Both the State of Maine and the federal government have laws protecting food donors from liability, so there is no danger in donating to the Food-Bank.
Food donors are protected through the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, also known as the Good Samaritan law, passed in 1996. The act protects donors from civil and criminal liability should product donated in good faith later cause harm to the needy recipient.
Learn more about the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act >
Does the Food-Bank practice food safety?
Because the Food-Bank takes seriously its responsibility to donors and the people we serve:
- All drivers are trained in food-safety policies and procedures
- Trucks are refrigerated to keep food at safe temperatures
- Recipient partner agencies are trained in safe food preparation and handling practices
- Recipient partner agencies are consistently evaluated on food safety practices
Contact the Food-Bank:
The Food-Bank is here to facilitate your donations, getting more food to more people smoothly and efficiently. We will coordinate the details, including pick-up, tracking and distribution. Contact the Food-Bank’s Resource Development Team at (207) 782-3554 x109 or by email at nperry@gsfb.org.
Click here to download a Food Resource Packet >
Other Food-Bank Needs...
- Truck backhauling
- Warehouse space
- Farm partnership (please contact us)
