Food Donation Connection
Food Donation Connection (FDC), LLC is a privately owned American company in Knoxville, Tennessee that serves as a liaison between restaurants/food service companies interested in donating surplus food and local social service agencies that distribute food to people in need. FDC's objective is to redirect prepared food that would otherwise be discarded to help feed the hungry.

The company was founded in 1992 by Bill Reighard, a former restaurant executive. Its operations and Harvest Support call center are located in Knoxville, Tennessee. FDC assists food service companies by developing and implementing Harvest Food Donation Programs tailored to provide an alternative to wasting surplus prepared food.

FDC coordinates donations from client donors such as restaurants, college campuses, airports, and hospitals to food rescue agencies across the U.S., Canada, and some overseas locations.

In 2011, FDC coordinated the donation of 35 million pounds of wholesome, surplus prepared food from 248 food service businesses (including 13,880 restaurants or donor locations) to 7,908 local non-profit hunger relief organizations.

FDC supports its agency partners by analyzing their current needs and connecting them with suitable food service businesses that can provide donations of surplus, perishable, prepared food. This enables recipient agencies to focus their resources on fulfilling their core mission instead of spending them on purchasing and preparing food.

Food Donation Connection does not compete with non-profits for funding from government and private sources. Instead FDC's funding is derived from a percentage of the incremental tax savings of donor partners resulting from the proper donation of surplus food. Donors who make efforts to store and donate surplus food correctly are rewarded with opportunities to engage in their local communities, build corporate goodwill, boost employee morale, realize potential tax savings, and reduce their carbon footprint.

The Harvest Support Network (HSN) was established as a non-profit organization by FDC to provide services that complement the processes of recipient agencies. However, HSN no longer accepts public donations and has ceased its legal designation as a 501(c)(3) charity. The responsibilities of supporting these activities have been absorbed by FDC and other interested parties who aim to support those serving the hungry. The decision to change the legal designation was primarily due to the additional resources required for fundraising not justifying the non-profit status.

HSN's mission is to provide systems and operational support to 501(c)(3) food banks and other charitable entities, allowing them to allocate their limited resources to their designated non-profit purposes. HSN offers training materials, scheduling and tracking systems, and tools that enable agencies to better match their needs with volunteer interests. These services further enhance the ability of non-profits to fulfill their individual missions and operate more efficiently.

Partnerships and Civic Involvement
In 2009, FDC forged a formal partnership with the National Restaurant Association to promote awareness of alternatives to overwhelming landfills with discarded surplus food, with the shared goal of, "...relieving hunger and reducing food waste in America."

The company is actively engaged in advocating for legislation such as the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996, which safeguards well-intentioned donors from civil and criminal liability. FDC also supports donation tax laws that enhance incentives for food donors and facilitate increased donations, regardless of scale.

Donor Partners
As of 2012, FDC actively coordinates Harvest Food Donation Programs for 248 companies, including renowned restaurants and food service companies such as:

ARAMARK
Auntie Anne's
Bob Evans Restaurants
Brinker International
Caribou Coffee
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen)
Famous Dave's
HMSHost
NPC International
Papa John's Pizza
Red Lobster
Starbucks
Yum! Brands (Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell, The Habit Burger Grill)
Wawa
Whole Foods

Harvest Recipient Partners
As of 2012, FDC actively coordinates the donation of surplus, wholesome prepared food to benefit more than 7,900 local agencies. These agencies encompass a wide range of organizations, including homeless shelters, teen homes, after-school programs, crisis shelters for women and children, soup kitchens, emergency food pantries, and food rescue organizations.

See also 
 Donation
 Food Bank
 Soup kitchen

References

Organizations established in 1992
Companies based in Knoxville, Tennessee
Hunger relief organizations
1992 establishments in Tennessee