The Thurston County Food Bank feeds nearly 10,000 members of our community each month. Food bank customers can expect more than just canned vegetables and dried pasta – the food bank’s shelves hold an impressive variety of fresh foods, too. Local grocery stores donate produce, dairy, meats, and baked goods that can no longer be sold but are still perfectly edible. The food bank also collects and redistributes food that local restaurants prepared but didn’t serve.

Grant funding from the Washington State Department of Ecology and Thurston County Solid Waste will help the food bank collect even more prepared food from local eateries. The extra funds will allow them to buy a van capable of keeping food cool during transport. The food bank also plans to upgrade their kitchen to enable them to repackage and distribute the prepared food in individual servings.

As long as restaurants follow proper food handling rules, state and federal Good Samaritan laws protect them from any potential liability. Donating extra food is a great way to keep it out of the landfill. Better yet, it helps community members in need.

Businesses in our community such as Old School Pizzeria and the Best Western Tumwater Inn are among the food bank’s current donors. Best Western manager Neil Munn says the decision to participate was a simple one.

The process was easy to set up, and his staff is happy to do it. “It feels good to reach out and help,” says Munn.

Old School Pizzeria owner Kenny Pugh agrees. “I feel bad about food waste. I can’t ever make the perfect amount, so I love to see it go to people instead of ending up in the trash.”

“Every restaurant should be doing this,” adds Pugh. “There are so many people out there that would appreciate your donations.”

 

How much food do we waste?

In these tough financial times, you might think not much food goes to waste. However, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) estimates that as much as 40 percent of the food grown in the United States ends up in the trash. While waste happens at all points in the food supply chain, consumers waste the most food.

The NRDC finds that food waste at home is often due to confusion over food product dating, preparing too much food, lack of meal planning, and impulse purchases (those two-for-one sales aren’t a great deal if you can only eat half before it spoils). The cost of this waste? A typical family of four tosses out $1,365 to $2,275 of wasted food each year!

fooddonation

Best Western employee Christina Walter packages unserved potatoes and eggs to donate to the Thurston County Food Bank.

You can avoid wasting food – it just takes a change in habits.

Follow these tips to reduce food waste at home:

Plan meals ahead of time, use shopping lists, and stick to both since impulse purchases are often wasted.

Cook smaller portions if you don’t like leftovers.

Remember that “sell by” or “best if used by” dates indicate peak quality, not food safety.

Divide and freeze products that you won’t use all at once. Sauces, meats, and casseroles keep well using this method.

To donate food or for more information on donation programs, please contact the Thurston County Food Bank at 352-8597.
Visit www.ThurstonSolidWaste.org for more information about waste prevention.