Benefits

  • Access a unique customer base by Participating in RLC Restaurant Week, when our 10,000+ RLC volunteers and supporters pledge to only eat at RLC-partnered food establishments!
  • Advertise your partnership and location across 40,000+ volunteers, partner network members, newsletter subscribers, social media followers and supporters of RLC.
  • Become a media partner highlighted on local, regional, and national TV and print media
  • Increase customer loyalty through your company's brand association with our common sense, green, social mission of RLC.
  • Food Donors may receive enhanced tax savings through IRC Section 170(e)(3). Note: you must stipulate in your Agreement with your clients that your business is the owner of the food in order to receive this tax deduction.
  • RLC can assist you with generating documentation for your accountant. Click here for more information.
  • Manage your food waste with data sent to you monthly with food donation amounts broken down by date.
  • Reduce your food disposal costs by donating excess food that would otherwise be thrown out.
  • Feed the hungry with your excess food at no risk instead of throwing it out.
  • Reduce methane gases that are more than 30 times worse than CO2 that result from food waste in landfills.
  • Eliminate the waste of natural resources of land, water, and energy used to produce and transport the food you made.
  • Your employees and clients will feel great about donating what would have been wasted food.
RLCDecal
  • Increase your positive brand association by donating your leftover food to RLC.
  • Receive a complementary door decal when you partner with us.
  • Receive a complimentary Social Badge for your web site, newsletters and social media.
  • Receive PR: you and our volunteers are encouraged to send pictures of food donations to us. We share our favorites on Social!
  • The combination of our decal and Social media posts will allow our volunteers to easily identify your restaurant during RLC Restaurant Week.

Partnership

  • Our dedicated volunteers will pick up your excess food from your location on a scheduled or emergency/same-day basis. There is no minimum pound requirement for a pickup, and we can come by at the time most convenient for you!

    Scheduled Pickups: businesses with consistent leftovers can schedule regular, recurring pickups to occur on a weekly basis. Pickups can occur once a week, daily, or anywhere in between! Email us to partner with our New York or Massachusetts branch.

    Emergency/Same-Day Pickups: businesses with irregular leftovers can schedule a same-day pickup whenever needed. When you have food to donate, sign into your account and fill out a very simple donation form to schedule your pickup. Email us to partner with our New York or Massachusetts branch.

  • There is a nominal fee for pickups to cover RLC’s Admin costs, which will be offset by the money you’ll save in taxes, thanks to the Enhanced Tax Benefits through IRC Section 170(e)(3). In fact, you will come out ahead over the course of a year. Between these tax benefits and reducing disposal costs, your business will actually save money by donating food.

  • All you need to do is package the food and let our volunteers in the door to pick it up! It’s easy!

All surplus fresh and prepared food that has been properly stored and kept out of the Danger Zone may be donated UNLESS it has been served, including buffet and food left out during Cocktails.

You may use Boxes, Saran Wrap, Tin Foil and Plastic Bags to package the food.

Remember: food donation is possible at no risk to you or your company for Apparently Wholesome food donations that are made In Good Faith. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 "exempts those who make good faith donations of food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry from liability for injuries arising from the consumption of the donated food." If you or your company have any questions, click here for a list of great resources about Food Donation.

Create an account to donate food

Hosting an event?

Make your event extra special by donating the excess food to the hungry! We rescue food from all types of parties including Weddings, Milestone and Corporate Events.

In order to best follow Food Laws and ensure quality food donations, RLC cannot pick up from privately catered parties. All food donated must be purchased from a licensed food vendor. We work closely with your catering company to provide a seamless pickup and donation.

  • Discuss food options that lend themselves to donation.
  • Conservatively manage food and beverage order.
  • Hold on to packaging so food can be easily re-packaged for donation.
  • Minimize food that leaves the kitchen.
  • Serve plated meals whenever possible.
  • Use smaller platters and food vessels on buffets.
  • Refill buffet dish only as necessary – do not be afraid of an empty dish.
  • One choice of food, or choices decided in advance, decreases food waste.
  • Do not have too many food options on a break station or buffet.
  • Since food is no longer eligible to donate once plated and served, ask your caterer to offer smaller servings, whether it’s being served on a plate or via buffet. This way, whatever is leftover in the kitchen may be donated. Your guests can always request or go back up for a second serving!

FAQ

This is incorrect, food donation IS possible at NO RISK to you or your company for donations made in good faith. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 "exempts those who make good faith donations of food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry from liability for injuries arising from the consumption of the donated food." If you or your company have any questions, click here for a list of great resources about Food Donation.

As the owner of the food, you have the right to say what happens to it, as long as it passes New York State Health Guidelines. The easiest food to donate is food that hasn’t left the kitchen. Be reasonable; don’t expect them to be OK with donating sushi that has been sitting out for an hour.

Email info@rescuingleftovercuisine.org or call RLC at 646-592-2229 and mention that you are interested in events food donations, and talk to your food provider in advance telling them you are working with RLC. Work with your food provider to come up with a menu that lends itself well to donation (for example: room temperature or cold items). Hotels and caterers are almost always willing to work with you on this wonderful initiative, and they want to keep you, their client, happy.

Testimonials

Baz is a neighbourhood restaurant with close ties to the community. RLC has been a wonderful partnership for us to assist those in need of fresh food in our own community. The daily contribution pickup process has been easy and seamless for our staff and we have met so many nice volunteers along the way.

Owner, Baz Bagel and Restaurant

What a positive impact their generosity is having on the lives of our seniors and kids here at Hartley! ...RLC and the food donor's generosity is proof that the fastest way to a person’s heart is through their stomach!

- Jil Novenski, Development Coordinator, Hartley House

Pickups are so quick and convenient and we are enjoying donating so much food to our local nonprofits! We also like how user-friendly the website is, and how helpful everyone from Rescuing Leftover Cuisine and the volunteers/staff from Breakaway Courier have been.

Chef Anthony Dicillo, Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel

I CAN… Those two words says it all.

Tom Cromwell, Breakaway Courier

Our Partners