Washington State adopted a Good Samaritan Food Donation Act in 1994 to encourage individuals, businesses & gleaners to donate food to hunger relief providers.  The intention of this law is to limit liability of food donors who donate "apparently wholesome food" to a nonprofit organization or allow the collection or gleaning of donations on your land. This act offers food donors protection from criminal and civil liability.     

It is not a “get-out-of-jail-free” card relieving donors and hunger relief agencies of the duty of acting responsibly. This law requires that the donated food be “apparently wholesome.” Animal products can look just fine but still carry E. coli, salmonella or other disease. Therefore, verifying whether animal products are, in fact, “apparently wholesome” requires knowing whether the food has been handled in accordance with suitable food safety standards.

Read the bill language (RCW 69.80.031) if you wish, and learn more by reading a legal review & analysis below prepared by the Washington Food Coalition. 

At the Federal level, the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act was adopted in 1996. It similarly excludes donor liability except in cases of gross negligence.  Learn more about federal protections here. 

While food banks, food pantries, and meal programs appreciate all donations, they strive to offer a diversity of food that helps balance nutrition - especially important to children, seniors, and those with health challenges.

Hunger relief organizations are most in need of: 

• Canned and boxed meals (soup, chili, stew, macaroni and cheese)
• Ready to eat products that do not require refrigeration (like nuts, jerky & other healthy snacks) for homeless bags
• Peanut butter and other nut butters
• Canned or dried beans and peas (black, pinto, lentils)
• Pasta, rice, cereal
• Canned and fresh fruits and vegetables
• 100% fruit or vegetable juice (canned, plastic or boxed)
• Cooking oil
• Canned meat (chicken, beef, fish)
• Infant formula, baby food and baby cereal
• Canned holiday food (cranberry sauce, stuffing, etc.)

Food banks and food pantries also make various essential household products available to help struggling families make ends meet. Other non-food items needed are:

• Hygiene products (shampoo, deodorant, soap, diapers, toilet paper, feminine hygiene, toothpaste)
• Cleaning supplies (laundry detergent, paper towels, kitchen and bathroom cleaners)

Monetary donations are always appreciated and are an effective way to donate since they allow food assistance providers to purchase what is most needed at a given time, including paying for refrigeration and other costs associated with storing and transporting food safely. Hunger relief agencies are able to leverage economies of scale to efficiently use monetary donations to purchase food.