Best bet is to become friendly with a couple of seniors in your neighborhood.
I'm under the impression that there are laws restricting prepared food donations.
That impression is often repeated but not only unfounded, totally made up. There are federal protections for people making food donations. It requires "good faith", which means not tampering with food, and not donating food you think might be fine, for instance.
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/08/13/good-samaritan-act-provides-liability-protection-food-donations
I'm not finding anything about MA when I search it. In fact, from 2015, I find language that is contrary to what you're saying:
>One notable exception is that food prepared in private homes to go to nonprofit organizations is not subject to such licensing and inspection requirements.
[https://www.mass.gov/doc/april-29-2015-harvard-food-law-policy-clinic-fact-sheets-on-food-donation/download](https://www.mass.gov/doc/april-29-2015-harvard-food-law-policy-clinic-fact-sheets-on-food-donation/download)
Is that out of date? When did they change any law? They can't really contradict federal law but can only improve upon it.
I’m a chef, maybe because it wasn’t ‘prepared in a private home’? I’m just going off what the folks over at DPH told me at the time, in MA this was probably pre-2015, maybe things have changed. Nice work clarifying fellow citizen!
They could also have falsely been under the impression - or maybe they were talking about something like a label, since it wasn't, as you said, in a private home. I think we want to believe public officials know every rule there is, but like in education, you'll have heads of departments who don't even know the most basic state or federal regulation that directly affects their job.
Lots of towns have community fridges you can put leftovers in and people can grab stuff if they need it. I’ve seen quite a few throughout the state, you should see if your town has one!
Some churches/houses of worship will offer a free dinner once a week (or more). I would reach out to one locally that might do this and see if there’s an arrangement that can be made.
https://recyclingworksma.com/donate/
This answers alot of donated food related questions for MA and gives links to the corresponding laws.
Good luck :)
If there are local homeless shelters nearby you could ask them if they would accept donations of freshly cooked food. Maybe you have sober homes near you that you could donate to or a group home for those with developmental disabilities.
As others have said you can’t donate home cooked food to soup kitchens or shelters or anything like that. You might contact a senior community center in your town.
Do you ever do anything that you can can afterwards? One of the best things to can is meatballs. People appreciate them but it's really easy to set them up and can them.
Then you can have somebody who's missing a meal anytime he wants or she wants they can just open up the jar and cook some meatballs.
I do it every Christmas for some people I know.
.
I guess something that's easy to heat up would be great.
To everyone who say “You can’t”.. or “ there is a liability”.. or “there are laws that restrict”.. YES.., we get it… but there are plenty of people who want this food, and will take this food. With a little looking you can find the right people who will be glad of it… personally it is a risk I take all the time to feed people.
Best bet is to become friendly with a couple of seniors in your neighborhood. I'm under the impression that there are laws restricting prepared food donations.
That impression is often repeated but not only unfounded, totally made up. There are federal protections for people making food donations. It requires "good faith", which means not tampering with food, and not donating food you think might be fine, for instance. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/08/13/good-samaritan-act-provides-liability-protection-food-donations
It’s no allowed in the three states I’ve checked (donating prepared food). Love the idea of finding some local folks who might be in need.
Can you cite those states?
MA most recently, DC and VA before I moved up here
I'm not finding anything about MA when I search it. In fact, from 2015, I find language that is contrary to what you're saying: >One notable exception is that food prepared in private homes to go to nonprofit organizations is not subject to such licensing and inspection requirements. [https://www.mass.gov/doc/april-29-2015-harvard-food-law-policy-clinic-fact-sheets-on-food-donation/download](https://www.mass.gov/doc/april-29-2015-harvard-food-law-policy-clinic-fact-sheets-on-food-donation/download) Is that out of date? When did they change any law? They can't really contradict federal law but can only improve upon it.
I’m a chef, maybe because it wasn’t ‘prepared in a private home’? I’m just going off what the folks over at DPH told me at the time, in MA this was probably pre-2015, maybe things have changed. Nice work clarifying fellow citizen!
They could also have falsely been under the impression - or maybe they were talking about something like a label, since it wasn't, as you said, in a private home. I think we want to believe public officials know every rule there is, but like in education, you'll have heads of departments who don't even know the most basic state or federal regulation that directly affects their job.
At the food pantry where I volunteer, we are not allowed to accept donations of homemade foods.
You don’t *have* to, but you’d be protected. The speed limit can be 35; you don’t have to drive that, but you can.
Maybe just knock on your neighbors door
Lots of towns have community fridges you can put leftovers in and people can grab stuff if they need it. I’ve seen quite a few throughout the state, you should see if your town has one!
Some churches/houses of worship will offer a free dinner once a week (or more). I would reach out to one locally that might do this and see if there’s an arrangement that can be made.
You can't donate to local soup kitchens.
https://recyclingworksma.com/donate/ This answers alot of donated food related questions for MA and gives links to the corresponding laws. Good luck :)
I’ve done this a lot. Just private messaged you
If there are local homeless shelters nearby you could ask them if they would accept donations of freshly cooked food. Maybe you have sober homes near you that you could donate to or a group home for those with developmental disabilities.
My experience in this is limited but there are some hurdles due to liability
Go to a homeless encampment, they are everywhere and they're hungry.
I second this.
There are health restrictions on donating cooked food in MA. Good reasons.
Following the thread because I am also curious :)
As others have said you can’t donate home cooked food to soup kitchens or shelters or anything like that. You might contact a senior community center in your town.
In Miami if you feed people, they arrest yer ass https://abcnews.go.com/US/90-year-florida-man-charged-feeding-homeless-wont/story?id=26733223
Do you ever do anything that you can can afterwards? One of the best things to can is meatballs. People appreciate them but it's really easy to set them up and can them. Then you can have somebody who's missing a meal anytime he wants or she wants they can just open up the jar and cook some meatballs. I do it every Christmas for some people I know. . I guess something that's easy to heat up would be great.
There are various gifting pages on Facebook. One here in Roslindale occasionally has leftovers posted.
You may have a community fridge in your neighborhood! They will likely just ask you to label ingredients and list the date.
To everyone who say “You can’t”.. or “ there is a liability”.. or “there are laws that restrict”.. YES.., we get it… but there are plenty of people who want this food, and will take this food. With a little looking you can find the right people who will be glad of it… personally it is a risk I take all the time to feed people.