The Retail Store Donation Program (RSDP) enables the Regional Food Bank to increase our emergency food distribution by collecting food from participating grocers that would otherwise be thrown away. Because of strict guidelines, stores often need to discard items even though they are nutritious and completely safe to eat. These goods are then sorted in our warehouse and distributed to our 1,000 partner agencies in our 23-county service area.

The Regional Food Bank works with participating stores to procure these otherwise expensive and difficult to obtain items such as meat, dairy, and produce – allowing food insecure residents throughout northeastern New York to prepare well-balanced, nutritious meals for themselves and their families.

In 2023:

  • 12.8 million pounds of food were rescued, the equivalent of 10.7 million meals
  • 235 individual stores across 20 retailers participated
  • 6 Food Bank drivers made pick-ups 5 days a week
  • 124 Retail Partner Agencies (RPAs) pick-up from stores in areas primarily outside the Food Bank’s truck routes

Participating Retail Donors:

 

 

 

To learn more about Retail Store Donation Programs in your area, please contact:

Jessica Bilodeau at (845) 534-5344 x103  |  Serving: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster

Rondi Edmonson at (518) 786-3691 x262  Serving: Albany, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties

Caila Jewell at (518) 786-3691 x273  Serving: Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schoharie, Warren and Washington Counties