Twenty percent of the food produced in America today is lost between the field and the table.  This amounts to at least 140 million tons of food, valued at more than $31 billion!  This discarded product could feed 49 million people each year - far more than twice the number of hungry Americans.  For food companies, food waste creates the additional financial waste of disposal costs and lost economic resources.  While some food loss is unavoidable, we intend to minimize this waste by increasing the participation of the food industry each year.  As a product donor, you can join us in the effort to reduce waste and feed those in need.

Donating product to Tri-State Food Bank helps local charities meet the needs of the hungry in their communities.  Many companies work in partnership with us in a highly visible demonstration of good corporate citizenship.  The local involvement is a valuable adjunct to corporate objectives.

Companies who donate regularly to Tri-State Food Bank report improved morale and a renewed pride in corporate goals among employees.  When donating to Tri-State Food Bank becomes a clearly stated company policy, employees know that management has made a long-term commitment to the health of the community.

Donors who give product to Tri-State Food Bank contact just one source to channel surplus food to the needy.  One phone call to Tri-State Food Bank eliminates the need to evaluate many different charities before donating.  Companies selecting Tri-State Food Bank to receive their surplus product know that their product will reach a variety of charitable feeding programs.  We'll even pick up the donation, saving the company transportation expenses. Companies also save disposal costs.

Donor companies are protected from liability under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donor Act of 1996 and the Illinois Good Samaritan Act, which was established in 1981.

Tri-State Food Bank is certified in food handling and safety. We can store dry, frozen, or refrigerated product safely and in large quantities and equitably disburse it to a variety of charitable feeding organizations.

We also accept non-food, personal care items such as shampoo and toothpaste, and household items such as paper goods and cleaning supplies.

Tri-State Food Bank distribution policies ensure that product will be circulated swiftly and efficiently.  Our labeling and software systems allows us to ensure first-in first-out procedure and tracking distribution of product.

Donors may be in a position to benefit from certain federal and state tax deductions allowed for contributions of inventory to qualified charitable recipients such as Tri-State Food Bank.  If the fair market value of donated goods exceeds their cost basis, the deduction may include a portion of such excess.  At a minimum, donors are assured of a deduction for the full cost basis of contributed inventory and any costs associated with the donation.  The above information should serve only as a guideline concerning charitable deductions for product donations.  Companies are urged to consult corporate tax specialists concerning specific product donations, allowable deductions, and changes to the Tax Code.

President Bush recently signed the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-280), which includes an extension of the special enhanced tax deduction for charitable food donations to all business taxpayers and represents a milestone in the fight against hunger in America.  All business taxpayers—including farmers, ranchers, restaurateurs and small business owners—can reap the same enhanced tax deduction as C corporations for in-kind food donations.  The deduction, equal to the basis plus ½ the fair market value appreciation, not to exceed twice the cost, will provide an estimated $250 million worth of new meals for hungry Americans over a 24-month period.

See overview

Tri-State Food Bank has designed its donation and distribution system to be convenient, easy-to-use, and "donor friendly".  Your phone call to us starts the simple process described in the accompany chart.  Tri-State Food Bank accepts food items as well as selected personal, home care, and paper products.  Donors contribute product to Tri-State Food Bank for a variety of reasons such as labeling errors, product formulation errors, warehouse damage overruns and products that are discontinued or approaching code dates. 

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