Reducing Business Waste

Donating Food

What Can I Donate?

Grocery stores and other food retailers often end up with edible food that has passed its “sell-by” date. Instead of paying to throw away these foods, consider donating them to a local food bank or meal program. Donating food not only contributes to your community, it can often reduce your company's trash disposal costs.

Can I Be Held Liable?

State and federal laws protects organizations from liability whenever they donate food they believe to be safe.  To read about Washington’s Good Samaritan law click here. To read about the federal Good Samaritan law, click here.

Who Do I Call?

Many groups in Thurston County collect food for distribution. Please contact the organizations below for drop-off locations and hours. If you would like us to add your organization to this page or change your organization’s information, please email Emily Orme at ormee@co.thurston.wa.us.

What if I Have Non-Edible Food?

Compost collection service is a great way to keep spoiled food and leftover scraps out of the trash.

Lacey
Food Banks & Meal Programs	Contact	Non-Perishable Items Only	Some Perishable Items Accepted	Other Info.
Faith Harvest Helpers	Buck Ware 790-3230	X
First Baptist Church of Lacey	Kay Squire 491-1140		X
Lacey Senior Center	407-3967		X
New Life Baptist Church	Marcia Moody 456-5815	X
Olympia Lacey Church of God	Stacy Conway 491-0414	X		Also accepts diapers
St. Benedict's Episcopal Church	456-2240	X
Turning Point Church (Lord's Pantry)	Joyce White 438-3737	X
Olympia
Food Banks & Meal Programs	Contact	Non-Perishable Items Only	Some Perishable Items Accepted	Other Info.
Church of Living Water	Community Care Ministry 754-5830	X
City Gates Ministry	Phil 705-0291	X
Community Youth Services	Barbara Wakefield 943-0780	X		Also accepts furniture, hygiene products, clothing & more.
Evergreen Christian Community	Community Care Services 352-3410	X
Hidden Creek Community Church	Jackie Payne 357-3739	X
Olympia Senior Center	586-6181		X
Thurston County Food Bank	352-8597		X
Union Gospel Mission	Virginia Schnabel 709-9725		X	Prefers canned/boxed items in large quantities.
Rainier
Food Banks & Meal Programs	Contact	Non-Perishable Items Only	Some Perishable Items Accepted	Other Info.
Rainier Chapel	Pastor Douglas 446-2614		X
Rainier Food Bank	Joyce 446-2342 Brandon 446-1040		X
Rainier Senior Center	446-2258		X
Rochester
Food Banks & Meal Programs	Contact	Non-Perishable Items Only	Some Perishable Items Accepted	Other Info.
Rain	Cindy Caturia 273-6375		X	Also accepts baby items, hygiene products, cleaning supplies & pet food.
Senior Services Lunch	273-5000		X
South Thurston United Friends	273-5891		X
Tenino
Food Banks & Meal Programs	Contact	Non-Perishable Items Only	Some Perishable Items Accepted	Other Info.
Tenino Community Service Center	Robin Rudy 791-5245		X
Tumwater
Food Banks & Meal Programs	Contact	Non-Perishable Items Only	Some Perishable Items Accepted	Other Info.
Littlerock United Methodist Church	Viola Premo 352-5130	X
Crossroads Community Covenant Church	Laura/Mike Pusateri (253) 468-6309	X
Yelm Adult/Senior Community Center	458-7733		X
Yelm Community Services	458-7000		X
Yelm Emanuel Lutheran Church	(360) 458-3861		X
Yelm Lions Club	Jacqueline Pratt 400-1746		X
Yelm Prairie Christian Center	Faith Harvest Helpers 400-7777	X

 

Contact Us

Call Emily Orme at (360) 867-2086 or e-mail ormee@co.thurston.wa.us.