Does a donation route beat the dumpster for your kitchen?
Eight boxes tell you. NEEDS handles pickup, same-day delivery, and your donation receipt — at no cost to you.
Unsold food usually costs a business twice: hauling fees, plus deduction value nobody documented.
01 · The food
We regularly end up with safe, unserved or unsold food — prepared, bakery, deli, produce, refrigerated, or short-dated.
It's still good when we let it go — the problem is the clock, not the quality.
02 · The timing
Our surplus shows up on a pattern we could predict — closing time, end of an event, short-code dates.
Someone on our team could hand food off during a defined window.
03 · The handling
We can hold food at a safe temperature until a scheduled pickup.
It's packaged, or could be trayed and sealed without real effort.
04 · The paper trail
We'd want a donation receipt and a transfer record for every pickup.
Our tax advisor should see the enhanced-deduction rules for donated food inventory (IRC § 170(e)(3) — in the code since 1976).
Checked five or more? One donation lane very likely fits — a 15-minute review will confirm it. Fewer? The review is still free, and either answer is useful to you.
We pick upScheduled windows at your door or dock. Title and handling responsibility transfer to NEEDS at pickup.
Same day, never resoldFood moves through approved community partners the same day — pantries, shelters, schools, group homes.
Records back to youTransfer documentation for operations, finance, and your CPA — every pickup.
Good-faith donations through nonprofit channels are protected by the federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (42 U.S.C. § 1791) and Oklahoma law (76 O.S. § 5.6), with exceptions for gross negligence or intentional misconduct. This page is not legal or tax advice; NEEDS provides the route and the records — your advisors make the calls. NEEDS Foundation is an Oklahoma-based 501(c)(3), EIN 80-0743170, operating since 2014.
The 15-minute surplus review
Bring your food categories, timing, and handling rules. We'll tell you quickly whether one lane works — and "no" costs you nothing.
Joey 405-245-5553 · Marcus 808-315-4969 · partners@theneedsfoundation.org
theneedsfoundation.org/food-providers
Food that comes back from an event can be on a family's table the same day we pick it up.