133 billion pounds of food are thrown out annually
Donating to nearby nonprofits can save food donors money with tax deductions while feeding those in need in their communities. Support MEANSDonate FoodCOVID-19 Update
Due to the spread of COVID-19, MEANS will be moving the following supplies in addition to food: paper plates, meal containers, plastic silverware, and other essential supplies. If you are a retailer with supplies to share or know one, please email [email protected] or call us at 202-449-1507. We will move your product to nonprofits serving the hungry.
MEANS Database's Feature in CNN Heroes
In December 2018, MEANS Database's co-founder and executive director, Maria Rose Belding, was featured as one of ten everyday heroes on CNN. Thank you for sh...
Donating Is Fast, Easy, and Safe
Always Free to Donate
Donating food via MEANS is always 100% free. We believe that it should be easier and cheaper to donate your unsold food than to throw it away. Premium features are available, but donating is always free.
Available Nationwide
MEANS has users in 49 states and the District of Columbia, so you can donate anywhere! If we don’t have users in your region, don’t worry. As soon as you sign up, our outreach team will begin recruiting around you to make sure we have partners nearby.
Find a Recipient Fast
3000+ Partner Organizations
We work with over 3000 partners throughout the United States. These users are food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and houses of worship. We verify their eligibility to receive tax-deductible donations so donors don’t have to.
Protected From Liability
Donations of "apparently wholesome food" donated in "good faith" to a "nonprofit organization" are protected by the Bill Emerson Food Donation Act. We verify our partners' nonprofit status, protecting you from liability.
Enhanced Tax Deduction
If you donate unsold food, you are eligible for a larger tax deduction than if you throw it out. At the end of the tax year, MEANS helps you download all the information you need to claim your enhanced tax deduction.
Our Partners Love Us
The event was a rainy day, so our projected assistance was not where we thought it would be, and we had to find a way to get rid of 3600 lunch bags ... in a few hours those bags were claimed ... If we did not have the MEANS Database, the food would have gone in the dumpster.
We partnered with MEANS Database to donate excess goat meat and Lavosh bread to the food pantry of Pennsylvania Avenue Church. MEANS makes it easier for organizations like ours, which produce massive amounts of food, to deliver them to those in need by reducing food waste.
Many thanks to MEANS Database and Coca-Cola for donating EIGHT PALETTES from Vitamin Water and Powerade! It has already helped many homeless people and will continue to do so on a daily basis ... this donation will provide the much needed hydration for those who live on the streets.
Receiving Donations Is Free, Customizable, and Simple
Free for Life for Nonprofits
Our nonprofit partners will never be charged for claiming food via MEANS. You shouldn't have to pay for donated food when you're serving those in need.
Only Receive What You Need
We won't drop food off on your doorstep that you can't use. When you create your account you tell us what kind of food you typically need and we only contact you about those. Then, you claim an item to be clear you want it!
Mobile Friendly
Volunteers are always on the run! MEANS website is mobile friendly, ensuring a smooth experience no matter where you are. We offer customizable text and email alerts so you can claim food on the go.
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