Food recovery
program
Recover surplus food for free before it goes to waste!
Move for Hunger and partners have rescued over 15 million lbs of food from the landfill through our Food Recovery Program. Whether you have excess fresh food or nonperishables, it’s easy to get involved and you’re helping the planet!
DELIVERY GUIDELINES
- Loads may range from 500 lbs (approx. 1 pallet) to a tractor-trailer load.
- Refrigerated transports are available for 8,000 pounds or more
- Pickups in as little as 48 hours
- Larger loads transported up to 300 miles
If this is an urgent/time-sensitive transportation request, please reach out to our teams directly at [email protected]
Let's connect!
Have questions? See our FAQ below.
Donate your food
Did you know ⅓ of all fresh food is wasted every year? That’s why Move For Hunger launched our food recovery program in the summer of 2021. We’re collaborating with our network of 1,200+ transportation partners to bring healthy food to communities in need.
Why work with us?
Our Food Recovery Program is a core part of our operation. We’ve diverted over 15 million lbs of food from landfills to help feed food insecure families! We’re dedicated to bringing more nutritious meals to food banks and pantries across North America. We’ve developed free, innovative transportation and cold storage solutions to assist our partners in distributing nutritious food to those who need it most.
We provide
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Seamless coordination
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Management of logistics
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Free transportation of surplus or short-dated products from manufacturers/distributors
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Free delivery to a food bank or pantry where it will be distributed
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Support for businesses to redirect surplus goods
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Reporting back your impact once food is delivered
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Food waste reduction!
FAQ’s
How much does food recovery cost?
Our transportation services are 100% free for the donor and the food bank.
Do you transport gleaned produce ,fresh fruit, and vegetables?
Yes!
Can you transport refrigerated items?
Yes, as long as it is a minimum of 8,000 or more pounds.
Can I schedule regular pickups?
Yes! We would love to schedule regular pickups if you have weekly or monthly donations.
What’s the minimum amount of food required for a pickup?
There’s a minimum non-perishable food donation of 500 lbs and 8,000 lbs minimum for fresh food recoveries.
Is there a maximum travel distance for a pickup/delivery?
Transportation should be less than 100 miles round trip. In some cases, we are able to accommodate longer trips, but generally, the shorter the distance, the more likely it is we can help.
Are there any foods you cannot transport?
We’re working to fight food insecurity, so we only transport food that will ultimately be offered to clients at no cost. Food should be palletized and/or packaged and ready for pickup. We are not able to transport prepared food items, such as leftover hot meals from a restaurant or catered event.
What is the Good Samaritan Act?
The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act offers legal protection to those donating food to nonprofit organizations, encouraging contributions from a wide array of donors including individuals, businesses, and institutions. Together, the Act and the program demonstrate a synergistic approach to reducing food waste and addressing hunger by connecting surplus food to communities in need.
Who we work with
- Gleaning organizations
- Farms
- CPG companies
- Food distribution warehouses
- Food banks & pantries
- Food rescue agencies
- Events & conventions
With the money we saved in transportation costs, we were able to acquire even more protein items to share with those who need it. Protein items are often some of the most expensive items in the grocery store and for that reason, are very desirable to our member food banks and the people that they serve. We are very grateful for our partnership with Move For Hunger!
- Sarah Vaughn,
Feeding Kentucky
