Donation Disclaimer
The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (42 U.S.C. § 1791) provides federal liability protection for good-faith donations of "apparently wholesome" food to nonprofit organizations. This protection has limits — gross negligence and intentional misconduct are NOT protected.
When you donate
- Only donate food that appears wholesome — fresh, not spoiled, not visibly contaminated.
- Be honest about what it is, when it was harvested, and how it was stored.
- If you don't know whether it is safe to eat, do not donate it.
When you receive a donation
- Inspect every item before accepting.
- You may refuse any item for any reason.
- You are not obligated to distribute items you would not personally feed your own household.
Donation centers and organizations
If you list yourself as a donation center, you must:
- Be a legitimate nonprofit, mutual-aid group, or community fridge with a real intake process.
- Honestly disclose what you accept and what you do not.
- Maintain your own intake records if your jurisdiction requires it.
The Platform's role
We are a venue that matches donors with recipients. We do not inspect food. We do not warranty donations. We do not guarantee that any donation center will accept any specific item. We log the transaction (donor, recipient, item type, quantity, date) so both parties have a record.
No tax-deduction guidance
We do not generate donation receipts for tax purposes. If a registered nonprofit issues you a receipt, that is between you and the nonprofit.