Help Feed Others

North Carolina ranks ninth in the country for food insecurity, but only 3.4 percent of surplus food is donated. If you have excess food, consider donating it to a local food bank and help feed neighbors struggling to find consistent, nutritious food.

Donation Liability Protection       

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 (Good Samaritan Act) provides limited liability protection for people who make good faith food donations to nonprofit organizations. The Good Samaritan Act provides protections for individuals, corporations, partnerships, organizations, associations, or governmental entities. A “person” receives protection when it donates in good faith “apparently wholesome food,” meaning food that meets federal, state, and local quality and labeling laws. However, protections are extended for food products that do not meet these standards if the donor informs the nonprofit, the nonprofit agrees to recondition the items to meet these standards, and the nonprofit knows how to properly do so. The Good Samaritan Act provides protections for a wide definition of “person” including retailers, farmers, non-profit organizations, and more.

The Food Donation Improvement Act, an amendment to the Good Samaritan Act, was signed into law in 2023. This amendment provides liability protection for "qualified direct donors" to, in good faith, give "apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product" directly to needy individuals. A "qualified direct donor" is defined as "a retail grocer, wholesaler, agricultural producer, restaurant, caterer, school food authority, and institution of higher education."

For more information about federal donation liability protection, visit USDA.gov or read the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic’s factsheet.

North Carolina’s Immunity for Donated Food statute provides the same protections as the Emerson Act. The statute provides liability protection as long as harm resulting from “the nature, age, condition, or packaging of the donated food” was not caused by “gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct of the donor.” The statute does not provide guidance on what constitutes gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.

Helpful Donation Hints
  • Food Banks accept sealed non-perishable, refrigerated, or frozen items as well as produce. You can also donate non-food items like hygiene, cleaning, or paper products.
  • Food safety regulations prohibit food banks from accepting unsealed, loose items without listed ingredients or glass containers.
  • NEW - SOPs for Prepared Food Recovery for Food Donors and Food Recovery Organizations by the NCLFC Food Waste Reduction Working Group.
Find a Food Bank
  1. Visit Feeding the Carolinas
  2. Go to “Find a Food Bank” tab and search for your county.
  3. Choose a food bank near you, and visit its website for specific instructions on how to donate food.

Or use the North Carolina Food Donation and Compost Resource map below.

What are the differences between food banks, pantries, and hubs?

Tab/Accordion Items

Food banks are nonprofit organizations that safely collect, sort, and store food donations from individuals, families, grocery stores, retailers, and restaurants. This donated food is distributed to pantries and other local food programs. Local food banks are part of the Feeding America and Feeding the Carolinas network which work to improve access to nutritious food for people of all income levels.

Food pantries are community spaces that distribute food directly to hungry individuals and families. Food pantries receive fresh and non-perishable food deliveries from food banks and food hubs. Potential locations for food pantries include faith-based organizations, schools, community centers, and mobile trucks. In addition to food banks, local food pantries are also part of the Feeding America and Feeding the Carolinas network.

Food hubs are businesses and organizations that work closely with local farmers to help them meet the needs of their buyers. Through offering marketing, sales, and distribution services, food hubs connect smaller farms with new and larger markets. Food hubs allow local farmers to focus more on farming and less on distribution. As a result, farmers can sell larger quantities of their produce to restaurants, grocery stores, and other institutions. Food hubs help grow rural economies and strengthen our food supply chain. To see the food hubs in your area, explore the NC Local Food Infrastructure Inventory map hosted by the Piedmont Triad Regional Council.

NC Food Hub Collaborative

NC Food Hub Overview

2023 NC Food Hub Economic Impact Assessment

North Carolina Food Donation and Compost Resource Map

The North Carolina Food Donation and Compost Resource map identifies resources to rescue edible food and manage food waste in and near the state for residents and businesses. It includes information on:

  • Food banks
  • Food scrap collection services
  • Food scrap drop-offs
  • Compost sites
  • Compost resources.

Users can select any or all these layers to understand food recovery efforts in North Carolina and learn more about the resources available to them. Not all sites serve residential and commercial clients, and certain locations only serve residents of the town or county. Click on the site pins or use the tools to learn more.

The information on food scrap drop-off sites is provided in partnership with the North Carolina Composting Council. For additional information on purchasing bulk compost, visit NC Compost Council. 

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