Dharma Bum Temple - Food Redistribution

FOOD REDISTRIBUTION

The weekly Food Redistribution Program is back as of 2023! Every Thursday at 5pm we gather to mindfully prepare food that would have been thrown away and carry it directly to those who are hungry. We pass out vegetarian food to the people living on the streets of downtown San Diego. This is a beautiful program and we need your help. We are building relationships with places that will let us take food that would typically go to waste. If you are interested in helping us collect food, please let us know. You can also just show up to offer a helping hand!

Practicing generosity means to give our time, energy and resources to help others without judgement. Generosity is the first of the Six Paramitas and is practiced to remove the conditions that lead to greed, which causes our suffering. This practice is as much for you as it is for others.

Weekly Schedule Every Thursday
5pm - 5:45pm: Arrive and Prepare Food
5:45pm - 6pm: Clean and Leave Temple
6pm - 6:45pm: Distribute Food
6:45pm: Closing Transfer of Merit Together Downtown

~ Selfless giving to achieve the welfare of all beings ~
Vegetarian Food Only Please

"I participated in the food redistribution tonight. I can not describe how much the entire evening touched my heart. Preparing the food was joyful and distributing it was humbling. Thank you." ~ T.O.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates food waste in the United States to be about 30 to 40 percent of the food supply. An estimated 133 billion pounds of food from stores, restaurants and homes was wasted in 2010, according to the USDA. 150,000 tons of food is wasted every day. Yes, 150,000 tons of food gets thrown out every single day. We are working to do our small part to help this serious problem.

Taking care of others that are in need is the message - it's always the message. This is the practice of Dana (Generosity). The most important practice of all. For 13 years we have been fortunate to have so many kind, compassionate practitioners donate their time and care to feed the many who are in need. Thank you to all who support this practice and welcome to the new practitioners!

Please come and let's feed some people who are hungry!

Thanksgiving Day Food Redistribution - 2018

Thanksgiving Day Food Redistribution - 2022

The Federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act

Millions of pounds of food and groceries go to waste each year. To encourage companies and organizations to donate healthy food that would otherwise go to waste, they are protected from criminal and civil liability under the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.

On October 1, 1996, President Clinton signed this act to encourage donation of food and grocery products to non-profit organizations for distribution to individuals in need. This law:

Protects you from liability when you donate to a non-profit organization;
Protects you from civil and criminal liability should the product donated in good faith later cause harm to the recipient;
Standardizes donor liability exposure. You or your legal counsel do not need to investigate liability laws in 50 states; and
Sets a 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 conductis likely to be harmful to the health or well-being of another person."

RESTAURANT CONTRIBUTIONS

If you are a restaurant and want to contribute to the Dharma Bum Temple Food Redistribution Program, please contact us! Your donation is tax-deductible and we deeply appreciate your support. Federal Tax ID is 27-1128167