On #Giving Tuesday: November 29th we are asking our supporters to Share Your Holiday Meal at the Food Finder’s ShareTable.
Our monthly giving program, The Share Table, brings families together with the consistent support of our Food Rescue program at Food Finders.
Currently, 1 in 6 Americans is food insecure, yet a third of the food produced goes to waste.
Our Food Rescue Program is a well-orchestrated program with a 33-year history of eliminating food waste & hunger while improving nutrition in the food-insecure communities in Southern California.
We secure healthy greens, vegetables, fruits, meat, and dairy to build a healthy plate through our Food Hub Program.
***But did you know that Food Finders is also an environmentally conscious and sustainable operation?Â
Food Rescue reduces methane gas and CO2(e) and saves billions of gallons of water. The more food we rescue and share, the greater our support of a healthy Earth!
How Can You Become A Food Rescue Hero this #GivingTuesday?
~ Become a Shared Table Member by committing to a monthly donation
~ Double your monthly donation through your Employer Matching Program
~ Share about our environmental mission to eliminate food waste with your online friends
To date, in 2022, Food Finders has rescued and redistributed over 11.5 million pounds of food to those in need.
That in meal language is 9.6 million meals provided.
We want to do more and reach more people in need.
Our year-end goal is to reach 11.6 million meals, and we are just 2.0 million meals away from our goal!
In reaching our goal, we will save 6.4 billion gallons of water and divert 7.6 million lbs of CO2e.
It is no coincidence that #NationalTaxDay also happens to fall within National Volunteer Month!
That makes April the perfect time to consider volunteering with Food Finders. In addition to all the wonderful benefits of volunteering, both personally and globally, you may also have an additional incentive that tax day brings to light — volunteering may be tax-deductible.
Possible Benefits
Now don’t get too excited about your possible tax day saving idea! Although volunteers contribute their services without pay, they may be able to deduct certain out-of-pocket expenses on income tax returns within limits set by the tax laws. It is something worth noting today, on Tax Day, but it shouldn’t be the reason you consider doing such impactful work. The purpose of volunteering isn’t to get something in return, we just thought it wouldn’t hurt to look into receiving a tax deduction–if you qualify for it.
How do I know if volunteering may be tax-deductible?
While volunteering itself is not tax-deductible, any out-of-pocket expenses used for work may count as fair game for tax deductions.
Some examples of deductions noted by HR Block could include:
Specific uniform needed to safely perform work duties
Mileage expenses spent traveling in your own vehicle to a work site
Travel expenses for an airport, train, or taxi to far location for a charitable service
Please visit this link for a more detailed breakdown on what may count as a potential tax deduction for volunteer work.
We are definitely not tax experts at Food Finders, so we do suggest consulting a tax representative for more information to determine if may be eligible for any tax deduction on out-of-pocket expenses (e.g. mileage expenses incurred from volunteer work).
The Real Benefit: Being A Food Finders Rescue Hero
By volunteering with us here at Food Finders, you are making a huge impact in your community and this makes you a hero! Consider taking time to volunteer this month and post a picture of your food delivery with the #IAmAFoodResuceHero
Please visit the volunteer page on our website for step-by-step instructions on how to become a volunteer with Food Finders.
Food Finders is always looking for volunteers to help us rescue and deliver food that is needed to help feed food insecure communities. The tax idea is just a cherry on top of an already wonderful volunteering cake! Happy #TaxDay
Food is everything for those working to reduce waste and eliminate hunger. When we walk into a grocery store and see a bruised piece of fruit, we become sad thinking that this nourishing treat could end up in a landfill instead of a Food Bank serving food-insecure communities.
But on event days like Super Bowl Sunday? Well, last year over 40 million pounds of food were wasted —just from the stadium. The good news is that much of this stadium waste was rescued and repurposed because of a plan. This year, up to 120 Million people will be watching or attending the big game. That means there will be 1.4 Billion chicken wings sitting alongside an equal amount of chips, salsa, pigs in a blanket, and so much more!
Celebrate But Make It Zero Waste
We want you to have fun, but we also want you to have a plan! Throw your party and be mindful of the waste. Here are Eight Zero Waste Party Tips to enjoy the game and feel good that you are making an impact:
1. Have a Plan for Scraps of Food
If you live in California, you need a plan for food waste. SB-1383 requires you to compost! Have a bucket next to all the delicious foods clearly marked “COMPOST” so that your guests know what to do. Food accounts for a lot of what goes into landfills, so having a place to compost reduces that impact, and it helps to reduce our carbon footprint too! Learn more about SB-1383.
2. Don’t Use Plastic Plates, Cups or Utensils
Sure, we know it’s easier to toss out plates rather than wash them! Minimize cleanup by preparing dish stations with buckets full of soapy water for guests to use to soak dirty dishes. Put a little sign above the wash station: “40 Million Tons of Waste is Generated During the Super Bowl. Prevent waste-wash and rinse a plate.” [Not enough plates? Try Goodwill. You can recycle used containers for very little money.]
3. Use Reusable Bags
When shopping for the party, remember to bring your favorite reusable grocery and produce bags to the store with you to minimize plastic and paper bag usage! And if you forgot, get those plastic bags out and recycle them!
4. Pack It All Up in Reusable Containers
reusable glass containers
You know there are going to be leftovers, so plan ahead. Minimize the use of plastic baggies, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and other disposable food storage items by packing leftovers in reusable containers. If you usually give leftovers away to guests, ask them to bring their own reusable containers to take food home in.
5. Forget All The Decorations
At the very least, could you keep it simple? You are there to watch the game, so save your money and focus on your team winning! And if you can’t live without a football-shaped table centerpiece, make it reusable. Your great-grandkids will be very grateful you did!
6. Label and Plan Your Trash Cans
Label Your Bins
There are two critical tricks to this part: First, clearly label waste receptacles, and second, put them in places that are easily accessible to guests. If they can’t see them, they won’t use them.
7. Let Everyone Know: Make Announcements
Just before the game starts, and then just before the first half-time commercial, announce the bins, the food scraps, and the reason why you are changing things up this year. Change happens when enough people speak up. Be the voice of change!
8. Repurpose Extra Food After The Game
Your Super Bowl planning probably included extra buns, chips, and produce. If you think it will go to waste, turn sour, or go uneaten–DONATE IT. Better to feed a group of seniors than to add to the landfill heap. Food Finders has a mission to rescue food, reduce hunger, and provide nutritious meals to food-insecure communities. That could be your mission too! Be a Food Rescue Hero
Food Finders is a nonprofit 501c3 food rescue organization with a mission to rescue food, reduce hunger, and improve nutrition in the communities we serve.
Tax ID# 33-0412749
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