Food Donations

Food industry donors

Over 80 food industry manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers donate grocery items to Second Harvest to support our mission. We accept dry, frozen and refrigerated food items and some cleaning and personal care products.  If you are a food industry representative, Dave Landerud, Second Harvest warehouse manager, can work with you on donation pick-up or delivery. He can be reached at 223-9121, x110.  Please give us at least 2-3 days notice.

Community food/fund drives

Many businesses, schools, churches and organizations host food/fund drives throughout the year to help feed those who are hungry in their local communities. A food/fund drive gives customers, friends, family, employees and the community an opportunity to make an difference in the fight to end hunger. It takes an average of 1.25 pounds of food to provide a meal. A $1 donation enables us to provide 7 meals. To request information about a food/fund drive, contact Tanya Payne at tanyap@shfbmadison.org or call 608-223-9121, extension 114.  We kindly request that you give us at least a week's notice or more if you plan on running a food/fund drive.

Most needed items include:

• complete meals (stews, pasta meals)
• meals in a box (Tuna/Hamburger Helper, macaroni and cheese, etc.)
• canned fruit, applesauce
• canned tuna fish
• peanut butter and jelly
• breakfast cereal
• pasta sauce and dry pasta
• beans and rice
• crackers

Donation drop off

We accept drop-off donations at our warehouse located at 2802 Dairy Drive in Madison.
Monday—Friday, 8:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. 

Liability protection for food donors

Both state and federal laws protect donors from liability.  In 1996, President Clinton signed Public Law 104-210, the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, to encourage donation of food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations for distribution to needy individuals. The new law protects donors from civil and criminal liability should a fit and wholesome product donated in good faith later cause harm to a recipient.

Wisconsin Statute 895.51, Liability Exemption: Food Donation, Sale or Distribution, also provides protection. Any person engaged in the processing, distribution or sale of food products, for profit or not for profit, who donates or sells, at a price not to exceed overhead and transportation costs, qualified food to a charitable organization or food distribution service is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to any individual caused by the qualified food donated or sold by the person.