Person posting
Describe the food honestly
State what it is, the approximate amount, preparation or opening history when relevant, packaging, current storage, known allergens, and a realistic pickup deadline.
Food safety
Donating food responsibly protects everyone.
Good food deserves a chance to be used, and it still needs honest descriptions, proper storage, clear timing, and careful inspection. Surplus displays information supplied by users; it does not inspect, certify, transport, or store listed food.
Decide at the handoffThe person collecting should inspect the food and can decline it if the description or condition is unsuitable.
Care is what makes community food donation possible.
Person posting
Keep the food under your care
Store the food appropriately, provide a safe collection point, answer reasonable questions, and remove the listing immediately if the food is no longer available.
Person collecting
Confirm you can complete the pickup
Do not request food speculatively. Make sure you can arrive before the deadline and have the transportation, people, containers, and storage you need.
Person collecting
Inspect before accepting
Check the food and packaging at handoff. Ask questions and reject anything that is damaged, inconsistent with the listing, or unsuitable for your intended use.
Surplus
Protect and operate the listing service
Hide private pickup details from the public, expire old listings, record connection requests, provide reporting controls, and respond to credible misuse.
Local rules still apply.
Permitted food categories, time and temperature controls, allergen practices, liability, and donation rules vary by location and circumstance. Check the food-donation and handling rules that apply in your location.