Food Donation Information for Establishments Impacted by Executive Order 20-04

Minnesota Department of Health sent this bulletin at 03/23/2020 09:10 AM CDT
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Partnership and Workforce Development – Food Safety Partnership Update

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March 23, 2020

Food donation programs accepting donations

This message is for establishments impacted by the recent dine-in service prohibition who may be interested in donating any surplus food to help your communities. Your food donations may be tax deductible and could help minimize financial impacts of executive order 20-04.

As concerns around COVID-19 grow, Minnesotans are cooking and eating at home and the hospitality industry is left with an abundance of food and teams with little work.  Second Harvest Heartland and a growing group of local restaurateurs are getting creative about the problem, using the quiet kitchens to feed Minnesotans in need.

Metro area establishments

Second Harvest Heartland, along with many restaurants in the greater metro area, is teaming up to help feed those in need during these trying times. If your business is in a position to help with donations of excess food, space or time see the contact information below.

 “The coronavirus has put stress on our industry, so we’re in touch with what it means to go without," said Alex Roberts, Chef-Owner and Alma Café, Hotel & Restaurant. "We don’t have customers for the time-being, but we do have food, we do have chefs, we do have line cooks. Let’s use them to feed folks who need a good meal as we face down the virus. I challenge my many great local restaurant and hospitality partners to join me.”

  • Restaurants with available food should use Meal Connect to donate food to local hunger relief efforts at mealconnect.org Second Harvest will pick up the food, providing a pick-up time window. Donations are tax-deductible.
  • Restaurants with available food and/or kitchen space, teams and talent interested in participating should contact Dianne Wortz at dwortz@2harvest.org
  • Businesses that want to donate packaging, cleaning/sanitizing supplies and other non-food items should email donations@chowgirls.net
  • Individuals who want to volunteer their time and cooking expertise should express their interest with an email to volunteer@chowgirls.net

Non-metro area establishments

Non-metro area food establishments should work with their local food donation programs to see if options are available for donating surplus food.

Put your establishment on the map of free meals

If your restaurant is offering free meals in the community, separately from this effort, please update this map of Meals for Kids during COVID-19 with your site’s information.

Please see MDH’s Website for updates on COVID-19.