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.

Sign up in ChowMatch & Create a Profile
- 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.
Important Information for Recipient Organizations
- 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!
Receive Food Donations
- 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.
What to Do after a Food 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.


Frequently Asked Questions
Who can receive donated food?
How will CFR honor existing relationships with food donors?
Can recipients sign up their donors?
What’s the sequence of match-making and scheduling a food run?
What if a recipient organization can’t receive food for a period of time?
Can recipients indicate they don’t want a particular food type?
If no volunteer claims a run, can an organization pick it up themselves?
What happens on the rare occasion that a volunteer doesn’t pick up the donation?
How is the amount of food that is donated recorded?
Can CFR members obtain information about how much food they donated or received?
What do I need to do after receiving food?
- 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.
Do you have information about the benefits of being a food recipient organization?

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