“Food Drop” gives truckers a quick way to get rid of rejected food loads in Indiana
A new program expanding in the state of Indiana allows truckers to quickly off-load rejected food loads at locations that will help ensure that they reach hungry families.
The program is called “Food Drop” and it is operating in partnership with the Indiana Motor Truck Association and the Indy Hunger Network. Food Drop gives drivers to option to drop off rejected food loads at one of nine participating locations. The program promises drivers that they will help to get the rejected load unloaded as quickly as possible and that all of the donated food will go to families in need. Drivers will also recieve a tax-deductible receipt for donation and will avoid any landfill fees that they might normally incur if they chose to unload the food at a dump.
From the Indy Hunger Network’s Alex Sindorf: “Every day, about a million trucks drive through Indiana, many carrying perishable food items. That food can be rejected at its destination, because it arrives on the wrong day, is the wrong size or color, or doesn’t meet standards for another reason. While still edible, this food frequently ends up in the landfill, as the driver has to offload the shipment in order to make their next pick-up. Food Drop is changing that by making donation the easiest and cheapest option for dealing with rejected loads. FoodDropIn.org accurately and quickly provides drivers with information on the nearest agency to receive their load, day or night. Instead of paying fees to dispose of food, drivers can expect help unloading their trucks, tax-deductible receipts, and the reward of knowing their donations are feeding hungry families.”
Food Drop began as a small pilot program last year but took in 87,000 pounds in just six months. Based on the success of the pilot program, Food Drop is expanding to help both truckers and needy families.
Program sponsors encourage truck drivers to drop off their rejected food load as long as most of it is still edible and if it meets the following guidelines:
- Dry, frozen, and refrigerated food
- Non-bulk and bulk items
- Products with unbroken seals and original labels showing ingredients and dates
Program organizers ask that drivers refrain from dropping off spoiled food, alcoholic beverages, or non-food items.
The locations are capable of receiving rejected loads as small as a single pallet or as large as a full truck load.