Is Foodstream Delivery a free courier or delivery service?
No. Delivery is not a free courier or on-demand delivery service. Delivery supports food recovery by coordinating donations and logistics. If neither the donor nor the recipient can provide transportation, Foodstream may help connect members to a mission-driven transportation partner. Transportation support is optional, reviewed case by case, and may involve cost paid by the donor or recipient.
If I use Foodstream Network to handle transportation, will it be free?
No. Transportation support is provided through mission-driven third-party partners and is subject to a quote. Costs vary based on distance, timing, and scope, and are typically paid by the recipient unless otherwise arranged. Members receive a quote before deciding whether to proceed.
Is transportation guaranteed?
All transportation requests are reviewed by the Foodstream team and depend on feasibility, timing, and capacity. Transportation support is not guaranteed, and Foodstream does not promise pickup or delivery.
Do I need to post or claim a donation to use Delivery?
No. Transportation support can be requested independently of posting or claiming a donation. Members can submit a request through the Transportation Support page to receive a quote and decide whether to proceed. Transportation may also be coordinated for donations posted or claimed on Foodstream.
How do I get started?
It depends on what you need:
- Have surplus food? Go to Donations and submit a short form to post what you have available.
- Need food? Go to Donations, review available listings, and submit a claim if the details work for your organization.
- Only need help with transportation? Go to Transportation to request logistics help and receive a quote, even if the food is not posted on Foodstream.
What happens after I post or claim a donation?
Foodstream reviews the submission, confirms details, and coordinates next steps with the donor and recipient, including logistics if needed. After completion, a short post-donation survey is required to track impact and improve the quality of coordination and delivery.
General
What is Foodstream Delivery?
Delivery is how Foodstream coordinates the full lifecycle of food donations across its Network. It brings together donors and recipients, supports safe food recovery, coordinates logistics when needed, and tracks impact, all to ensure surplus food does not go to landfill.
What is Delivery designed to do?
Delivery is designed to make food recovery easier and more reliable by providing structure, coordination, and visibility across the donation process. It helps surplus food move safely from those who have it to those who need it, while setting clear expectations around roles, timing, and responsibilities.
Is Foodstream Delivery a free courier or delivery service?
No. Delivery is not a free courier or on-demand delivery service. Delivery supports food recovery by coordinating donations and logistics. If neither the donor nor the recipient can provide transportation, Foodstream may help connect members to a mission-driven transportation partner. Transportation support is optional, reviewed case by case, and may involve cost paid by the donor or recipient.
Who can use Foodstream Delivery?
Foodstream Delivery is available to Foodstream Network members, including donors with surplus food, recipient organizations seeking food, and organizations that need help moving food for recovery. Members may post donations, claim available donations, or request transportation support, even if the donated food was not posted on the Foodstream platform.
Donations
How do I post a donation?
Go to Donations, complete the donation form, and submit your surplus food listing. You’ll be asked to provide key details so Foodstream can coordinate safely and set clear expectations for potential recipients.
What information is required to post a donation?
At a minimum, donors are asked to provide:
- Food description and quantity
- Pickup window and deadline
- Pickup location
- Handling requirements (e.g. refrigeration, freezer, hot-hold if applicable)
- Day-of logistics contact
Can I edit or cancel a donation after posting?
Yes. If details change or the donation is no longer available, donors should update or cancel the donation as soon as possible by emailing donations@foodstreamnetwork.com. This helps Foodstream notify recipients and prevent failed pickups.
How do I claim a donation?
Browse available donations in the Donations dashboard. If you can meet the timing, handling, and transportation requirements listed, you may submit a claim. Submitting a claim signals intent and triggers review and coordination by the Foodstream team.
Are donations first-come, first-served?
Yes. Donations are claimed on a first-come basis. Once a donation is claimed, it moves into a processing state and is no longer available for others to claim while coordination is underway.
What happens after I claim a donation?
Foodstream reviews the claim, confirms key details with the donor and recipient, and coordinates next steps. Pickup does not proceed until coordination is confirmed. Claims indicate intent, not guaranteed completion.
Can my organization both donate and receive food?
Yes. Organizations may participate as donors, recipients, or both, depending on their role and needs at any given time.
What statuses can a donation have?
Donations may appear in one of the following states:
Available – The donation is posted and open to be claimed.
- Processing – The donation has been claimed and is under coordination.
- Complete – The donation has been delivered and the post-donation survey has been completed.
- Cancelled – The donation could not be completed due to timing, availability, or other constraints. Cancelled donations are no longer visible.
What does “Processing” mean?
“Processing” means a donation has been claimed and is actively being coordinated. Details such as timing, transport, and pickup logistics are being confirmed. Processing does not mean the donation is guaranteed to be delivered.
When is a donation considered complete?
A donation is considered complete once:
- The food has been successfully delivered, and
- The recipient organization has submitted the required post-donation survey.
Until both steps are complete, the donation remains in Processing.
Can multiple organizations claim the same donation?
No. Donations are claimed on a first-come basis. Once a donation is claimed, it becomes unavailable to other organizations while coordination is underway.
What if a pickup fails or cannot be completed?
If a pickup cannot be completed, Foodstream reviews the situation and determines next steps on a case-by-case basis. In some cases, the donation may be cancelled.
Why is the post-donation survey required?
The post-donation survey is required so Foodstream can track impact, improve coordination, and maintain accountability across the Network. Survey responses help ensure donations are handled safely and that the system continues to work for all members.
Who is responsible for completing the post-donation survey?
The recipient organization is responsible for completing the post-donation survey. The survey confirms that the donation was received and provides information needed to close out the Delivery process.
What happens if the post-donation survey is not completed?
If the post-donation survey is not completed, the donation will remain in a Processing state. Continued failure to complete surveys may affect an organization’s eligibility to participate in future Deliveries.
What impact is tracked?
Foodstream tracks impact metrics related to food recovery and coordination.
These may include:
- Amount of food recovered
- Number of completed donations
- Organizations served
- Environmental impact
Impact tracking helps Foodstream improve operations and communicate the value of food recovery efforts across the Network.
Transportation Support
What is Transportation Support?
Transportation Support helps facilitate the movement of food for recovery purposes when a donor or recipient cannot manage pickup themselves. It is optional, coordinated case by case, and exists only to support food recovery and donation-related needs.
Can I request transportation without a donation?
In limited cases, yes. Transportation Support may be considered for approved, mission-aligned food recovery needs even when a donation was not posted through Foodstream. All standalone requests are reviewed individually and subject to availability.
What is Foodstream’s role in transportation?
Foodstream coordinates and supports food recovery by connecting members with transportation options when needed. Foodstream is not a transportation provider, does not operate vehicles, and does not guarantee pickup or delivery. When third-party transportation is involved, Foodstream acts as a connector and coordinator, not a carrier.
Is transportation guaranteed?
Transportation requests are reviewed individually based on timing, capacity, and feasibility. Transportation support is coordinated case by case and is not guaranteed.
Who pays for transportation?
In most cases, transportation costs are covered by the recipient organization. In some situations, donors may choose to help cover transportation costs if they are unable to provide transport themselves. Foodstream does not cover transportation costs.
How do I request Transportation Support?
To request Transportation Support, visit the Transportation Support page and submit the intake form. The Foodstream team will review the request and follow up if additional information is needed.
How long does approval take?
Transportation requests are reviewed manually, and timing depends on the details of the request, availability, and urgency.