Community Food Rescue
ChowMatch
Food

Receive Food

If you are a non-profit food assistance or social service organization that provides food – including shelf stable, fresh, frozen, or prepared food – to people experiencing hunger, join the CFR network to receive donated food. Follow the easy steps below to get started with our free food matching app, ChowMatch.

  • Click on the ChowMatch button, enter your email and create a password to sign up
  • Create your organizational profile by completing this information:
    • Federal Tax ID (or EIN) number into your profile (required)
    • Primary contact to receive emails about CFR food runs. You may add others (follow signup directions) or change the main contact within your account at any time
    • Days and hours your organization can receive and unload food (NOTE: volunteer food runners may or may not be physically able to help you unload)
    • Number of people your organization serves in a year.
    • Types of foods you typically receive as donations from these categories (checklist)
    • Amount of food your organization can accept in a food run (e.g. # of trays, boxes, lbs.)
      TIP: Food units are approximately: tray= 5lbs. and box=40 lbs. (about the size of a banana box)
    • Special instructions so that a volunteer can find your location, parking, front door, etc.

    Tip: Once you have created a profile, download the ChowMatch mobile app for Android or iPhone to receive food runs from your smart phone.

ChowMatch

  • If your staff or volunteers can transport food donations, they can also sign up as volunteer food runners. You will be notified when a food donation is matched to your organization and then if a volunteer doesn’t accept the run to transport it to you, a member of your staff, or your volunteer can claim the run and transport it.
  • IMPORTANT! If at any time your organization can not accept donated food, you must change your profile status to “inactive”, otherwise, you may receive food that you cannot use. Go to Recipient>my recipient account>status> select from drop down menu.
  • Your organization’s established relationships with food donors will be honored when the donor selects your organization as a food recipient. Check with all your established donors to make sure that they select your organization at the time they schedule a food donation. Encourage your donors to join CFR and sign up to use ChowMatch if they haven’t already!
  • Once you complete your organization’s profile your account will be activated. Your designated contact person will receive an email when food donation matches are made and food runs are scheduled. You can also login to your account at any time to check on scheduled food runs. Go to Recipient>my food runs
  • Matches are based on the information in your profile including: types of food, amount of food, timing, and location. When a donor posts a food donation, a match is made with your organization, and a volunteer accepts the run, the food run will be scheduled automatically during your designated hours. You can update any profile changes online anytime.
  • Volunteer food runners will ask you to sign the Food Safety Tracking Form upon receipt of the food. Retain these forms in your files to satisfy county health regulations in case there is ever an issue with food safety.

In your online account, go to Recipient>my food runs> select the specific run

  • Click on the checkmark icon. Electronically sign that the food has been handled according to CFR safe food handling practices.
  • Click on the star icon. Rate your food run experience. Your feedback will improve the food run experience for everyone and helps CFR improve the system overall.
  • Click on the pencil icon. Update the amount of food that was actually received if it differs from the amount the donor posted. This information is used to accurately report the total amount of food that is being donated.

Tip: If you receive a regular weekly food run, you only need to sign and rate your first run. You will need to update the amount of food donated if it differs from the estimated amount you initially entered.

Be Safe
Food Safety Tips for Food Recipient Organizations

Read our County-approved Food Safety Guidelines for handling donated food. Learn how food donors and recipient organizations are protected from liability.

Learn More

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Frequently Asked Questions

Non-profit food assistance/social service organizations that provide food–including shelf stable, fresh, frozen, or prepared–to people in need of supplemental food in Montgomery County. The recipient organization must have a Federal Tax ID number or EIN.

When donors schedule a food donation, they can select a food assistance organization that is already in the CFR network if desired. If you are a recipient organization, tell your food donors to select your organization when they create a food run.

When a donor schedules a food donation run, ChowMatch software tool automatically matches a recipient organization based on both profiles. Then an email request is sent to all volunteers within the vicinity of the donor. The first volunteer to claim the run gets it. Then the run is scheduled and an email confirmation is sent to the donor, recipient, and volunteer with the run details and contact information.

IMPORTANT! All active recipients will automatically be matched to receive donations according to their profile. If a recipient is temporarily unable to receive donations, they must change their profile to “inactive” status until they can resume receiving donations. Recipients can adjust their profile at any time. Go to Recipient>My Recipient Account>Edit Profile> click on status menu.

Food donations are entered by food donors when they schedule a food run. For regular, repeated runs with similar quantities and types of foods, donation information is entered one time and the information is automatically aggregated for each run. If food is donated as a one-time run, food donors post the types of food and quantities of each. Food run information is aggregated. IMPORTANT: Donors or Recipients should update the amount of food donated if it differs from what was posted to accurately capture the amount of rescued food.

Login to your account, click on the down arrow under Recipient> My Food Runs> click on the listed food run. Go to Recipient>my food runs> select the specific run

  • Click on the checkmark icon. Electronically sign that the food has been handled according to CFR safe food handling practices.
  • Click on the star icon. Rate your food run experience. Your feedback will improve the food run experience for everyone and helps CFR improve the system overall.
  • Click on the pencil icon Update the amount of food that was actually donated if it differs from the amount you posted. This information is used to accurately report the total amount of food that is being donated.
    Tip: If you receive a regular weekly food run, you only need to sign and rate your first run. You will need to update the amount of food donated if it differs from the estimated amount the donor initially entered.
  • Retain the Food Safety Tracking Form received from the volunteer food runner you signed in case there is a food safety issue.
receive-4-thank you - people at kitchen work table

Thank You

We celebrate food donors and recipient organizations working together. Your business will be listed on the CFR website, in blog posts, E-newsletters and social media. Donors can also request a printer-friendly certificate that recognizes the organizations that receive their donated food. Participating businesses are also encouraged to become verified food donors through Food Recovery Verified. 

Be Part of The Solution!

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