Occasionally not all my regular buyers need eggs and I'm quickly overwhelmed, like right now. I would like to donate the extras. There isn't a homeless shelter or even a soup kitchen in town, but there is a senior center. They have vans that go out a couple times a week and pick up senior citizens from the outlaying communities and bring them to the center for a day's activities. I thought I'd offer the eggs at the center to any seniors that would like to take a dozen home with them. My question is, when you've donated do the people in charge of these places give you any hassle about how the eggs were collected or kept (refrig. vs. counter), etc.? Do they have certain requirements or do you treat the eggs you donate any different from all your others?
I would imagine that they would not let you donate the eggs unless you had the proper permits required by your state to sell table eggs. It's a liability for them. It's the same reasons/policies that prevent senioe centers, homeless shelters, food banks, etc., from accepting donations of homemade food items. If someone were to get sick from eating your eggs, well, the center could be liable for not ensuring that the source of the eggs was tested/had the required permits.
Instead of donating them to the center, why don't you ask if you can post a sign and offer to meet people at the Center to deliver the eggs if they call you? I know a lot of people on a fixed income would love the chance to supplement their groceries. I think it's really nice of you to offer them. -Spooky
What a nice thing you are doing! You might also try www.secondharvest.com, or see who runs your local commodity food give-away -- usually a church. Or call some churches in your area. I bet they would LOVE to give them to their less fortunate parishoners, or use them in their baking for coffee-hour. You can search second harvest by zip code. They may have a drop-off near you. Good luck!
Thanks y'all. That's all good feedback. My SO knows alot of the elderly in town, so maybe we'll just do a door to door delivery and cut out the senior center.
ooh, good idea! i have a senior center right at the end of my road...i think i will stop in and ask if they have any needy people who could use them! thanks for the idea!
It is great that you are trying to help others with your bounty!!!! But as you suspect, there are USDA laws governing everything When I have (had, darn cold winter) extras I usually stop by the local coffee shop and strike a conversation with those that are talking about the hard times. You can usually tell those who are struggling and those who aren't by their demeanor (or they are great b.s. artists). I mention that I have fresh eggs for sale and if they are interested I will give them the first dozen free!!! They always come back and I keep my word. Dollar a dozen, if I feel they are using me I stick them with a 1.50 a dozen. On their birthday's I give them a dozen for free. (don't tell Rachel from the "charge $5.00 a dozen" thread
I think that there are lots of good ideas here to help people in need!! I hope that lots of BYCers see this post and think about how they can help others through this difficult time!! There are SO many things that you can do with scrambled eggs to feed a family's belly!! God Bless!!
Another idea is to call the local churches and see if they have needy families. Usually your smaller churches are not as caught up in the "politics and rules" and can point you in a truly needy family's direction. For me it is so hard to tell BS'ers from the truly needy. I put an English saddle on Freecycle and picked a family that said they "Needed" it for their daughter, when they came to pick it up they said they didn't have horses and just wanted to let their 2 yr old play with it. I was so upset. Then someone posted they just got their 1st horse and needed some free items to get started with it. I got out brushes, halters, leadropes, bridles, saddle pad, the works. They show up in a brand new car and all wearing designer clothes (better than I own) and a month later the farrier tells me they gave the horse away already. That kind of ended my "helping out strangers". I could be using the stuff I gave these people. Good luck at finding someone to help - I am sure they will really appreciate it.
