Food Rescue Program
Partnering for Sustainability and Community Impact
Reduce Food Waste, Meet SB1383 Compliance, and Support Your Community.
By donating surplus food, your business can reduce environmental impact, ensure tax-deductible donations, and help provide nutritious meals to local families in need.
Your business can play a vital role in reducing food waste and hunger with flexible pickup options, zero liability under the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, and an opportunity to support sustainability efforts.
Join our Food Rescue Program today and make a positive impact on both the community and the planet.
Porchlight Community Services Food Rescue Program
Partner with us to actively reduce food waste and address food insecurity. Our Food Rescue Program is designed to support local businesses by making it easy to donate surplus food, helping you comply with California's SB1383 law and minimize waste, while making a lasting impact on our community.
By participating, your business can provide vital resources to individuals and families, ensuring that perfectly good food doesn’t end up in landfills, but instead nourishes those who need it most. Whether it’s surplus from your restaurant, grocery store, or special event, we’ve developed a seamless process for you to donate.
Benefits of Partnering with Our Food Rescue Program:
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SB1383 Compliance: Ensure your business fully complies with California’s food recovery regulations.
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Environmental Impact: Join the fight against climate change by diverting food waste from landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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Zero Liability: Thanks to the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, your donations are protected from civil or criminal liability.
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Tax Deductions: Enjoy tax benefits for your donations, reducing taxable income.
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No Hassle: We handle all logistics—from pickup to distribution—ensuring a hassle-free experience for your business.
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Support Local Communities: Directly contribute to food security efforts in San Diego, feeding families and individuals in need.
Ready to make a difference? Together, we can help tackle food waste while supporting sustainable and equitable food access for all.
Food Rescue collects surplus, nutritious food that might otherwise go to waste and redirects it to individuals and families who can benefit from it. This initiative helps reduce food waste and supports food security, ensuring that good food reaches those who need it most while contributing to a more sustainable future.
What Does Food Rescue Entail?
Our Food Rescue Program makes it simple for businesses to participate in reducing food waste and sharing nutritious food with the community.
Here's how it works:
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Partnering with Businesses: We collaborate with local businesses, restaurants, grocery stores, schools, and event organizers to collect surplus food that is still good for consumption.
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Pick-Up or Drop-Off: Whether at your location or dropped off at our warehouse, we make it easy to donate food in a way that works for you.
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Safe Handling: All food donations are carefully handled, adhering to food safety standards to ensure they are secure and fresh for distribution.
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Upcycling Food: In addition to redistributing surplus food, we upcycle food, transforming items that may not be suitable for direct consumption into nutritious, value-added products (like jams, sauces, or dried goods), further minimizing waste.
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Distribution to the Community: Once food is collected and processed, it is sorted, stored, and shared with individuals and families, strengthening the local community and helping reduce food insecurity.
What Can Be Donated?
Edible Food that is still in good condition can be donated. We accept a wide range of food donations from businesses, helping to minimize waste and provide nutritious meals to our community:
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Prepared Foods: Unopened and properly stored meals, including catering leftovers or pre-packaged meal options.
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Packaged Goods: Sealed, non-perishable items like canned goods, dry grains, snacks, and beverages.
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Bulk Foods: Large quantities of bulk goods, which we repackage into smaller, manageable portions for community distribution.
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Fresh Produce: Fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are surplus or nearing their sell-by date.
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Dairy, Meat, and Eggs: Unopened products still within safe consumption guidelines.
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Frozen Foods: Items that remain frozen and within safe use dates.
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Allergy-Friendly Products: Foods catering to individuals with dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free options.
How You Can Make a Difference
By partnering with our Food Rescue Program, you help reduce food waste and provide nutritious meals to the community. Whether it’s surplus from daily operations, event leftovers, or excess stock, your donations make a significant impact, and we offer a simple, effective way to do it.
Together, we can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable community while reducing food waste. Let’s collaborate to make a meaningful difference.
What is Food Rescue?
How to Donate
Donating surplus food through our Food Rescue Program is simple and safe, ensuring that good food goes to those who need it most.
Here's how you can participate:
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Review Food Donation Guidelines
Ensure that the food is safe for redistribution and meets the following criteria:-
Wholesome Condition: Food must be safe for human consumption.
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Unopened & Unspoiled: Donated items should be in their original, sealed packaging or freshly prepared without contamination.
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Temperature Control: Items must meet safe temperature requirements for storage and transport.
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Labeling Requirements
Properly label your donations to ensure traceability:-
Commercial Food Labels: Must include the product name, manufacturer details, ingredients, and use-by date (if applicable). Include "Donated Food - Not for Resale."
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Prepared Foods: Label with the food's name, donor details, preparation date, and allergen information when relevant.
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Schedule a Pickup or Drop-Off
Choose the option that works best for your business:-
Pickup: Schedule a convenient time for our team to collect your food donations directly from your location.
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Drop-Off: Bring your donations to our designated drop-off point at our warehouse.
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Track Your Donation
You can record your donations using donation tracking software or maintain paper records for easy reporting. We will also keep track of what you have donated for compliance and for you to receive a tax receipt for your contribution.
Program Fees
Drop-Off Donation Plan
0$Ideal for donors dropping off surplus food at our location—no fees or paperwork required unless you’d like a tax receipt.Free Plan
Monthly Food Rescue Subscription Plan
100$Every monthMake regular food donations hassle-free with our subscription plan, which includes 4 free pickups each month within our 15-mile service area.
Ready to Schedule?
Ready to donate? Scheduling a pickup is simple and convenient. Whether you’re donating surplus food on a one-time or recurring basis, our team is here to help you every step of the way.
How It Works:
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Select Your Pickup Time: Choose from available pickup windows that work best for your schedule. We offer flexible time slots to make it easier for you to contribute.
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Prepare Your Donation: Ensure your food is properly packaged and ready for pickup. Our team can accept a variety of food types, from perishable items to bulk goods.
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We’ll Do the Rest: Our team will arrive within your selected time window to collect and transport your donation to our warehouse, where it will be distributed to those in need.
Let’s make food waste a thing of the past. Click below to schedule your pickup and be part of the solution today.
Be Part of the Food Waste Solution!
According to REFED, "In the U.S., a staggering 35% of all food goes unsold or uneaten – almost 90 billion meals’ worth of food annually. It's valued at $418 billion, roughly 2% of U.S. GDP, and it has the same climate footprint as the entire U.S. aviation industry (passenger, commercial, and military). "
We throw away an estimated 500,000 tons of food waste each year in San Diego County. All that food generates over 270,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases. The Environmental Protection Agency developed a Food Waste Recovery Hierarchy (modified version below) which lists feeding hungry people as one of the top strategies to prevent and reduce wasted food. By donating edible food from your business, you can be part of the food waste solution and help reduce hunger in your community!
Why Donate?
Help our neighbors! 1 in 3 people in San Diego County experiences food insecurity
Reduce waste and the disposal of edible food
Reduce greenhouse gas and water quality impacts
The Good Samaritan Food Donation Act
The Good Samaritan Food Donation Act,” offers responsible food donors protection from criminal and civil liability if the donated food is “apparently wholesome.” This means the donor knows the food has been handled with correct food safety standards. The act does not release donors or hunger relief agencies from the duty of acting responsibly. Operate with judgment and diligence to make sure donated food is safe and wholesome.