Since 2014, The Stewpot has worked become a leader in Food Recovery efforts in North Texas. Food Recovery prevents the surplus edible food around Dallas from ending up in the dumpster or landfill and shares it with those who are hungry. To date, The Stewpot has reclaimed over 1,000,000 lbs of food from a variety of community partners.
If you would like to arrange a food donation, please read the questions below and, if your food qualifies, call or text our Food Recovery Team at 469-236-0488.
Does my food qualify?
Is the food within its “Use By” date?
We are unable to accept any food donations that are past their posted expiration date.
Has the food been prepared within the last 5 days?
We can only accept donated food that has been recently prepared.
Was the food prepared in a commercial kitchen?
In order to comply with food recovery laws, acceptable donations must have been prepared in a commercial kitchen. The Stewpot focuses most heavily on the rescue of prepared foods in larger quantities; however, we will do our best to accommodate any usable small food donations as well.
Has the food been maintained at the proper temperature?
Cold food items must be stored under 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot food items must be kept at a temperature greater than 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the donation includes animal products, were the animal products bred for consumption?
We can only accept domesticated animal products raised in an agricultural setting and bred for human consumption. This means we are unable to accept hunted wild game such as deer, duck, boar, and wild-caught fish.
Are you able to transport the food to The Stewpot?
While we are able to pick up certain food items, due to limited resources with our transportation truck, we prefer to have donations dropped off.
faqs
Why food recovery?
Recovered foods allow The Stewpot to prioritize our purchasing to fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables and leaner proteins. This provides the opportunity to prepare more items from scratch in our kitchens so that we may fuel our diners in a health conscious manner, taking into account diabetes, hypertension, dental issues, as well as mental health diagnoses, which can be prevalent among our homeless and at-risk neighbors.
Who is eligible to donate food?
We receive donations from corporations, small businesses, convention centers, hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, and others. Community partners include Costco, Central Market, Pecan Lodge, Tom Thumb, Whole Foods, Berkley's Market, 7-11 Test Kitchen, Einstein Bagels, Bimbo Industries, Lockhart BBQ, The Dallas Convention Center, TGI-Fridays Test Kitchen, Savory Avery Pop Corn, Padrino Foods, Amorino Gelato and many others.
Is it legal?
The food recovery efforts of our partners as well as the efforts of The Stewpot are protected by The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 that "exempts those who make good faith donations of food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry from liability for injuries arising from the consumption of the donated food." It also states that "a nonprofit organization shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product that the nonprofit received as a donation."
Is it safe?
Protections are taken as donations are received including logging temperatures, holding the food appropriately, and asking questions of the donor about food handling practices at their site.