Beyond the Plate:

Where’s Food Meets Responsibility

Beyond the Plate is a Social Responsibility Food initiative designed to help organizations hosting events reduce food waste and support local communities.

Let’s Make Your Event a Force for Good!

By partnering with Haven’s Harvest, event organizers can ensure that excess food from their gatherings benefits those in need, rather than ending up in the waste stream. Gone are the days of begging attendees to take home leftovers!

This program is available in the following CT counties:

  • New Haven

  • New London

  • Hartford

  • Middlesex

How It Works:

1. Partnership Setup:

   - Partner with Haven's Harvest during your event planning process.

   - Provide details about the event, including location, caterer, and estimated attendance.

2. Coordination:

   - We liaise with your caterer, vendors, or venue to arrange seamless pickup of any excess food.

   - Our team ensures that the food is handled safely and redistributed to local organizations and individuals who need it most. Our volunteers use real-time tracking through our app to ensure food remains safe and out of “danger zones".

3. Educational Support & Recognition:

   - We will provide you with a placard to publicly display at your event, showcasing your company’s commitment to corporate responsibility and the Haven’s Harvest mission. Additionally, participating organizations are encouraged to mention Haven's Harvest in event materials, and we can supply digital assets to support this.

Program Benefits:

For Your Organization:

  - Align your event with sustainability goals and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

  - Receive public recognition for supporting food recovery and combating food insecurity.

For the Community:

  - Ensure edible, surplus food reaches those in need, contributing to a healthier and more equitable community.

For the Planet:

  - Reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions, supporting environmental sustainability.

Program Fee:

Haven’s Harvest relies on a collaborative model to reduce food waste and nourish our communities. While participating organizations generously donate surplus food, there are essential costs associated with ensuring safe, reliable, and effective food recovery.

To sustain our operations, we ask participating businesses to contribute a program fee of $1 per event attendee, up to 200 guests. For events with more than 200 guests, custom pricing applies (contact us for details). This fee helps cover the logistics of food rescue, including coordinating pickups, supporting our volunteer network, maintaining compliance with food safety regulations, and ensuring that recovered food reaches those who need it most.

Your support enables us to continue this vital work, maximizing the impact of your donations while strengthening local food security. We call this “feeding two birds with one scone.” Your generous food donation fuels our community, and your financial contribution fuels our organization.

We’re happy to discuss how this fee aligns with your company’s sustainability and corporate responsibility goals!

Reach out today to discuss how your upcoming event can make a meaningful impact. Together, we can recover food, reduce waste, and uplift our community.

  • 1. Is it safe to donate leftover food?
    Yes, food safety is our top priority. We work with experienced food professionals and volunteers who follow strict handling and transportation guidelines to ensure all food remains safe for consumption. Additionally, donors are protected under the federal Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, which reduces liability concerns when donating in good faith.

    2. What if our caterer is concerned about liability?
    Many caterers worry about legal repercussions when donating surplus food. However, the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects food donors from liability as long as the food is donated in good condition. We can also provide information and support to help caterers feel confident in participating.

    3. How does the food pickup process work?
    Once you partner with Haven's Harvest, our team will coordinate directly with your caterer, vendors, or venue to arrange seamless food pickups by our volunteers. We ensure timely collection and proper redistribution to local organizations and individuals in need.

    4. What happens if there are logistical challenges on the day of the event?
    We understand that events can be dynamic and unpredictable. Our team maintains open communication with event organizers to address any last-minute changes and ensure food recovery efforts go smoothly. We just ask that to be made aware of any changes as soon as possible.

    5. How do you ensure that all food is handled safely?
    Our team follows strict food safety guidelines for storage, transport, and distribution. We use real-time tracking through our app to ensure food remains safe and out of “danger zones.”

    6. How much does it cost to participate in the program?
    We suggest a donation of $1 per attendee to help cover logistics and operational costs associated with food recovery and redistribution. Your support ensures the sustainability of our efforts to combat food waste and hunger.

    7. What if our organization cannot contribute financially?
    We strive to make food recovery accessible to all organizations. If the suggested donation poses a challenge, please reach out to us to discuss alternative ways to support the program.

    8. What are the environmental benefits of participating?
    By diverting surplus food from landfills, your event helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve resources, and promote sustainability. Every pound of food recovered contributes to a healthier planet.

    9. How can we showcase our participation in the program?
    We can provide materials to highlight your commitment to sustainability. Participating organizations are encouraged to mention Haven's Harvest in their event materials to showcase their corporate social responsibility efforts.

    10. How do we measure the impact of our participation?
    Haven's Harvest can provide a report detailing the amount of food recovered and the community impact, allowing you to track and share your sustainability achievements with stakeholders.

    11. How can we get started with Beyond the Plate?
    Contact us today to discuss your upcoming event! We’ll help you make a meaningful impact by reducing food waste and supporting your community.