Today, I got to be a small part of the solution.

[denbot]

I ran a load of Frozen Pizzas from southern Wisconsin to a distribution center (DC) near Harrisburg PA.

The DC refused one of the pallets because the expiration date was "short dated", in other words even though the use by date was in the third week of October, it was too close for the DC to accept. Since we run from load to load, the standard procedure is to see if the receiving company, or dock workers will just keep it, or toss it for us.

I looked up food banks in the Harrisburg area, but my boss told me to hold off on dumping the product until we heard back from the shipper.

My next load left a little room in the trailer (53') so I pick up in Hazleton, and headed for Elkhart IN, making my drop last night. After my drop I headed to a truck stop in Gary IN, found a food bank less then a mile from me, and got some sleep.

In the morning I called the food bank, and they were happy to take a pallet of frozen pizzas off my truck. When my boss text'd me my next load assignment, with the instruction to dump the product anyway I could, I let the boss know I found a food bank, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana,
and not only were they close, they would give the company a tax deductible receipt for the retail value of the product.

I was able to get food to people who needed it, get my boss a little write off for doing it, and my little company now has a proven alternate procedure for dealing with the occasional food stuffs left on our trucks.

[Scuba]

1. Thanks denbot. Good thinking on your part!

[redwitch]

2. Excellent work denbot!

I volunteer at our little food pantry and I know how exciting it is to get such a large donation. Well done!

[tblue37]

12. Yes, and nice to get a "treat.". Whenever I donate to food drives, I always include

non-perishabe items that kids who don't usually get treats will consider a nice surprise. I hate that most American parents fill their kids up with sugar and junk food. But kids whose food comes largely from food banks must get sick of rice, dried beans, boxed mac and cheese, canned peas and corn, and other such non-perishables that comprise most donations.

Yes, those are nutritious staples that can be stretched to feed the family for a while. But I like to think of the kids (and some adults, too, no doubt) who get a bag of lollipops or pudding cups for a treat or a box of pancake mix and bottle of syrup for a less utilitarian breakfast. Those things are not as healthy as more utilitarian foodstuffs, and lollipops are just sugar junk. But I bet some little kids' eyes light up when Mommy gives her a lollipop.

Frozen pizzas probably will be a nice change of pace for the families that get them. I didn't realize that food banks would accept them. Now I know something else to offer.

BTW, about food banks and food drives. It is great to participate in food drives, but even more effective to donate cash. The people who run food banks are skilled at getting a bigger bang for the buck. The money you spend buying things to put into a bag for a food drive can usually purchase two or three times as much if donated directly to the foodbank. Also, they know what they have tons of and what they don't have enough of.

One more thing: When donating to shelters and places that help those who need assistance, consider also donating personal items, like toothbrushes and toothpaste, tampons and pads, shampoo and deodorant, small packs of kleenex, etc. And for homeless shelters, gloves, socks, and warm scarves are welcome.

[redwitch]

19. Our pantry can join the regional food bank next month.

And boy howdy does that ever stretch the dollars! Not all food pantries can handle frozen food but ours has just received a freezer donation and they have 2 regular sized refrigerators. Applying for a grant to get commercial size fridge and freezer. I love unpacking from food drives. I always smile when I see donations of cookies and crackers and personal care stuff. I can tell someone put lots of thought into their donation. I think pudding cups are great! And as we also serve many elderly folks, small portion items are great.

At Christmas I like to include all kinds of treats that work for Stocking stuffers too. Including candy canes.

[Kber]

28. Awesome!

[dballance]

3. Kudos to you!

Good job.

[rosesaylavee]

4. AND

you saved all that food going to a landfill somewhere.

Good job!

[The Magistrate]

5. Good For You, Sir!

Well done.

[calimary]

6. Great job, denbot!

Sounds like you solved several problems at once!

[riqster]

7. Speaking as a food pantry volunteer, that is not "small".

To those who feed the hungry, such gestures are huge. Bless you!

[slumcamper]

8. Nice job, Den. The spirit of community lives in the thoughts and actions of folks like you! eom

[DrewFlorida]

9. Excellent job! Very good thinking, very good action!

Keep up the good work!

[mahannah]

10. Outstanding.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. Good for you, my dear denbot!

You did solve several problems, and everyone in this transaction is a winner!

[irisblue]

13. you deserve this

[Paper Roses]

14. Good thinking. As a former volunteer for a thrift shop whose monies earned

supported a local food pantry, I know how great these pantry's need donations. I wish all suppliers and retailers would find a way to do just what you did. Don't toss, donate.

In my area, stores also throw out good fresh veggies and fruit if there is a tiny bruise on them. I think it is such a waste. I asked about it one day at a local market, they told me it was a health law. Maybe so but it sure is a shame.

[Enthusiast]

15. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

Thank you for your service, denbot.

[1StrongBlackMan]

16. Not only a "little write off" ...

Have you boss talk with Accounting; but I'm pretty certain your move will turn a significant profit for your boss.

I don't know your company's procedure, but whomever the end receiver was, I'm pretty certain they were NOT paying retail for the frozen pizzas.

[calikid]

17. Thank you for stepping up

[a kennedy]

18. Thank you for going out of your way to make someone else's day a little better.

[hue]

20. Great to hear! You look like a management asset to the company & population!

Thanks for Your thoughtfulness!

[Raffi Ella]

21. K&R

Good on ya, denbot.

[BrotherIvan]

22. You are a good egg

A mensch. Thank you for going out of your way to spread the good. You made the world better.

[brer cat]

23. Great solution, denbot. nt

[TxDemChem]

24. I love a good win/win/win situation

I hope others will follow your lead

[SheilaT]

25. Excellent!

I do volunteer work feeding the homeless in Santa Fe, NM, and every bit of food donated is appreciated.

[rickyhall]

26. Good job, Dude!

[Kber]

27. Brilliant!!

[japple]

29. Bless you, brother, for being so resourceful. Helping those in need

and holding to your principles is huge accomplishment. Thanks for being a good steward: for passing on the food supply and keeping stuff from being dumped. You are a real hero!

[Skittles]

30. VERY good

it just takes a bit of extra effort for a great result - excellent

[joanbarnes]

31. LOVE THIS. Thank you so much for doing this.

[TBF]

32. Nice work - we do what we can. K&R nt

[Skier101]

33. Nice!

Good job, denbot. I've found a lot of truckers to be good guys. Nice to add another to the list!

[Snarkoleptic]

34. Win, win, and win!

Nice job denbot!

[tooeyeten]

35. Props to you, your company

For thinking on your feet, generosity of spirit and giving to others, heroes all the way around!!

Thank you and bless you and your boss!

[JackInGreen]

36. hell yeah!

And Bravo!

[barbtries]

37. great work denbot.

thank you.

[No Vested Interest]

38. Good for you, taking time to get those pizzas to people

who will be glad to have them!
Thanks, denbot.

[LibDemAlways]

39. Your story reminds me of something that

happened to my husband long ago. He was a private pilot in charge of a group donating several planeloads of frozen turkeys to a native American tribe near San Diego for Thanksgiving. When they landed, however, no one from the tribe showed up to take the food. It was a warm day and the turkeys quickly started to thaw. My husband tried to contact a few area churches to see if they coud arrange to take the birds but had no luck. An airport worker happened to overhear and explained that he was a volunteer with the San Diego Coalition for the Homeless, and he was confident the organization woud be happy to have the food. Within an hour, a refrigerated truck showed up and the turkeys were gone. My husband later received a letter from the head of the coalition thanking him and letting him know that over 200 people, some of them Native Americans, had enjoyed a turkey dinner. Happy endings both!

[Sherman A1]

40. Good news!

Excellent effort on your part!

[bvf]

41. Fantastic!

Practical and creative all at once. The world needs more like you.

[Stellar]

42. Impressive!

Congratulations!

[babylonsister]

43. Wonderful!

I hope all the other drivers consider this in future-you set a great example!

[Heather MC]

44. Bravo Great Ending, I was afraid

The last line was going to read "my boss made me toss it out"

I worked for a fast food italian food chain years ago. They tossed out hundreds of dollars in Frozen unused food every week. It was insane

[In_The_Wind]

45. That was an awesome solution. You rock, denbot!

It felt great to donate ice cream cakes to the Kingston food pantry when I was managing a Carvel. No one buys a turkey shaped cake after Thanksgiving is over. Somehow I always managed to have extras.

[Roland99]

46. Huzzah! Huzzah!

[WCLinolVir]

47. Fabulous!!!!!!!