The Central Virginia Foodbank accepts contributions of food and household and personal care products from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

In addition, we have numerous other collection sites for non-perishable food:

- 24-hour drop box, located in front of our building at 1415 Rhoadmiller St.

- 24-hour drop box, All Ukrop's Locations

- Five Central Virginia BB&T branches (click here for list)

- Brighton Gardens Assisted Living, 1800 Gaskins Rd. Daily 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Phone: 741-8880

- Fitness RX, 10128 West Broad Street, Suite H. Open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Phone: 726-9992.

- Flooring Artistry, 2733 McRae Rd., Bon Air, Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

- Greenfield Reflections of Petersburg Assisted Living, 550 Flank Rd., Petersburg. Daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (861-4358)

- Midas of Richmond at the following locations:

5301 W. Broad St. (288-4055)

7909 W. Broad St. (346-8500)

11463 W. Broad St. (360-2211)

5527 Mechanicsville Tpke. (559-9112),

10160 Hull St. Rd. (276-9600)

1400 Boulevard in Colonial Heights (520-2206)

- Thrifty Quaker Store, 13567 Midlothian Turnpike. Open Mon.-Fri. from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 794-7158.

There are various ways that you can help collect food for the hungry in Central Virginia:  

• Organize a food drive. Arrange for the collection of non-perishable foods at your company or organization. The food is then delivered to the CVFB warehouse at 1415 Rhoadmiller Street for distribution to our partner agencies. For more information or help in organizing a food drive, call Brenda Miller at 804-521-3272. She will work with you to ensure the success of your food drive. Our Food Drive Tools can assist you in promoting your drive.
• Donate your company product. If you are in the foodservice business you can donate prepared and perishable food or household products. Call Rick Holzbach at 804-521-3276 to find out which products our community needs. Rick can also explain the Good Samaritan Law and how it protects you with this type of donation
• "Plant a Row for the Hungry."
  When planting your summer vegetable garden, plant an extra row of vegetables for the hungry and donate the harvest to CVFB. For information, call Rick Holzbach at 521-3276. 

The Good Samaritan Law

On October 1, 1996, President Clinton signed the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act to encourage the donation of food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations for distribution to needy individuals. This new law makes it easier to donate. Here's how:

• It protects donors from liability when donating to a nonprofit organization.
• It protects donors from civil and criminal liability should the product donated in good faith later cause harm to the needy recipient.
• It standardizes donor liability exposure. Donors and their legal counsel no longer have to investigate liability laws in 50 states.
• It sets a liability floor of "gross negligence" or intentional misconduct for persons who donate grocery products. According to the new law, gross negligence is defined as "voluntary and conscious conduct by a person with knowledge (at the time of conduct) that the conduct is likely to be harmful to the health or well being of another person."
• Congress recognized that the provision of food close to recommended date of sale is, in and of itself, not grounds for finding gross negligence. For example, cereal can be donated if it is marked close-to-code date for retail sale.

Donating is easier now than ever before. America's Second Harvest continues to meet or exceed the same federal food-handling and safety regulations that govern the food and grocery industry.

For complete text of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, visit the Second Harvest Web site at www.secondharvest.org or fax your request to 312-263-4357.