How local restaurant owners redirect surplus food across Minnesota

Minnesota food shelves were on track to hit a record 9 million visits in 2024 as high food prices drove more people to seek support.

That demand has increased pressure on the community organizations working year-round to help Minnesotans access food.

The story: Hunger is a year-round challenge that requires ongoing support — but local businesses can play a practical role in strengthening that network.

The idea: The Chick-fil-A Shared Table program helps redirect surplus food from restaurants to local nonprofits that can put it to good use.

How it works: Participating Chick-fil-A restaurants package high-quality surplus food for nonprofit partners to incorporate into meals.

• Locally owned and operated Chick-fil-A's donate ingredients like chicken filets, chicken strips, biscuits, mac and cheese, waffle fries, fruit cups and salads.

Local nonprofit partners pick up those donations, transport them safely and use the ingredients in meals for people experiencing food insecurity.

• Nonprofit partners then build those ingredients into meals such as chicken parmesan, breakfast casseroles, stir-fries and smoothies.

The strategy: Several Chick-fil-A restaurants contribute food, but the system depends on people across the community to move that food where it can help.

The model gives restaurants a consistent process for redirecting usable food while giving nonprofit organizations ingredients they can incorporate into the meals they already prepare and distribute.

• Plus, because restaurants work with organizations located nearby, those donations can remain in the same communities where the food originated.

The local impact: Shared Table now operates at every Chick-fil-A restaurant in Minnesota.

• Those local partnerships have helped create nearly 500,000 meals for neighbors in need.

• Nationwide, more than 2,700 participating restaurants work with local nonprofit organizations, with more than 90% of Chick-fil-A restaurants participating in Shared Table.

The takeaway: Shared Table gives Minnesota Chick-fil-A restaurants one concrete way to contribute: Recover prepared food that still has value, put it in the hands of nearby nonprofit partners and help those organizations turn it into meals.

During Hunger Action Month this September, Twin Cities restaurants are extending that work through a Chocolate Chunk Cookie fundraiser from Sept. 21–26, with a portion of proceeds supporting Second Harvest Heartland's hunger-relief efforts.

• With every local Chick-fil-A restaurant participating, Shared Table partnerships have already helped create more than 500,000 meals locally while redirecting surplus food to neighbors in need.

Learn more about the Chick-fil-A Shared Table program and its work in local communities.