STATEMENT ON PRODUCT ABUSE

This is an EXTREMELY IMPORTANT matter.

Please share this notice with all who come into contact with Second Harvest products.

All products that come to your agency from Second Harvest are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and are federal property. They were donated for charitable use under the provisions of Section 170(e)(3) of the IRS Code. Under this Code, your only lawful use of such products is to provide them absolutely free of charge to the ill, the needy and/or infants in full compliance with your agreement with Second Harvest. This means:

1. You MAY NOT sell, trade, or barter the goods to earn money or goods for your agency.
2. You MAY NOT take any goods for your personal use unless you meet the eligibility requirements to receive the products.
3. You MAY NOT pay yourself or volunteers with Second Harvest products.
4. You MAY NOT give them to ANYONE except those who you believe to be "ill, needy, and/or infants." Church suppers, social events, bake sales, fund raisers and other congregational activities are not acceptable uses of Second Harvest products.

Second Harvest programs are provided for the benefit of the member agencies and the people they serve. We must rely on our member agencies to ensure that products are served only to those whom food banking is intended to benefit. Any abuse of Second Harvest products will result in immediate and unconditional expulsion from the program.

We emphasize this because Second Harvest products may tempt otherwise honest, law-abiding people to break the law. DON'T DO IT! Penalties for misappropriating donated products are severe. Convicted offenders face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $20,000.