SPOON Replication Resources

The Stanford Project on Hunger (SPOON), a hunger awareness and food salvaging student group on the Stanford campus, has started a National Food Salvaging Replication Program (NFSRP). This program has the goal of increasing food salvaging efforts across the country. Food salvaging is the collection of unused food leftovers from eating establisments and events which are then channeled to local hunger relief organizations to meet the hunger needs of community members./p>

Although food service employees work hard to reduce the amount of food wasted, prior to SPOON's existence most leftover food on the Stanford campus was thrown away. Recognizing this waste and the need for food among the homeless in the Palo Alto area, a dedicated group of Stanford students founded SPOON in 1987. This program has been enourmously succesful, at one point helping to serve over 200 meals a week in the local community.

However, not all colleges have food salvaging programs. Recognizing that if more schools participated in food salvaging programs, there would be less food waste and less hunger in the United States, SPOON launched the National Food Salvaging Replication Program in 2001. On this website, we have more information on how campuses across the country can start a food salvaging program. Please send an email to spoon@service.stanford.edu for more information. Included on this website are:

Food Salvage Program Manual [ Word doc ]
How SPOON Operates Video [ QuickTime mov ]

Summary of National and State Laws on Food Salvaging and Good Samaritan Laws

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996 makes food salvaging easier. It protects donaors from liability when donating to a non-profit. This has become a standard, national law, whereas different states had different laws prior to this.

For more information about the law, please see: http://www.no-hunger.org/donate/goodsamaritan.htm

However, keep in mind that there are still local laws on food handling by volunteers. Please read the how-to manual thoroughly and get in touch with your local government when you are trying to set up a food salvaging program.

Links

Other University Food Salvage Programs

• Brown University
• Harvard University
• Boston University
• MIT
• University of Vermont

Helpful Information on Food Salvaging

• http://www.msue.msu.edu/fnh/hunger/toolbox/salvage.html
• http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/gleaning/content.htm
• http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/gleaning/one.htm
• http://www.nscahh.org/