DFOWW INCORPORATED OCTOBER 2026 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

DFOWW INCORPORATED OCTOBER 2026 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

HEALTH LITERACY: KNOW IT. UNDERSTAND IT. USE IT. OCTOBER IS HEALTH LITERACY MONTH

October is recognized as Health Literacy Month, an annual observance focused on making health information easier to understand and helping people gain the knowledge and confidence they need to make informed health decisions. Health Literacy Month has been observed each October since 1999. 

For DFOWW Incorporated, Health Literacy Month is an opportunity to look at health literacy from a practical, everyday perspective. Health literacy is not only about going to the doctor. It can include reading nutrition labels, evaluating health information, asking questions, understanding instructions, navigating complicated systems, keeping records, and knowing where to get help.

Healthy People 2030 defines personal health literacy as the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for yourself and others. Healthy People 2030 also recognizes that organizations have a responsibility to make information and services easier for people to find, understand, and use. For DFOWW, this connects directly to our belief: Education + Nutrition = Empowerment.

NUTRITION LITERACY IS PART OF HEALTH LITERACY

The Write-Right Nutrition Program provides practical nutrition education that helps participants build skills they can use every day.

Nutrition literacy includes learning how to:

Read nutrition labels and understand serving sizes and Daily Values.

Understand ingredient lists.

Evaluate nutrition information and recognize unreliable fad diets.

Make informed food choices.

Ask healthcare providers informed nutrition questions.

Understand how food and nutrition relate to overall health.

Plan meals and make the most of a limited grocery budget.

But health literacy reaches beyond food. It also includes the ability to understand and navigate systems that affect our daily lives. That is why our featured October program focuses on housing education.

FEATURED OCTOBER PROGRAM

FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS: FROM PAPER TO REAL LIFE

“Approved Doesn’t Always Mean Provided.”

DFOWW Incorporated has added a new three-part housing education workshop series to the Write-Right Nutrition Program curriculum.

WHY IS A HOUSING WORKSHOP PART OF A HEALTH LITERACY MONTH NEWSLETTER?

FAIR HOUSING IS NOT THE SAME AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING

One reason we have expanded our curriculum is because affordable housing and Fair Housing are often confused — but they are not the same thing.

Affordable housing and housing assistance address access to housing that a household can afford. Fair Housing is a civil-rights issue involving protection from unlawful discrimination in housing.

These issues can intersect. For example, a person participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program may receive housing assistance while also having Fair Housing rights. People with disabilities may also have rights to reasonable accommodations that provide an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their housing or participate in a housing program.

WHY ARE WE TEACHING FAIR HOUSING & TENANT RIGHTS?

DFOWW Incorporated has expanded the educational curriculum of the Write-Right Nutrition Program to include Fair Housing and Tenant Rights education because food security does not exist in isolation.

Housing stability is an important part of household stability.

For low-income families with children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and households receiving housing assistance, navigating the housing system can be complicated.

This can be particularly challenging for people participating in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, who may have to navigate landlord-tenant issues, housing-authority rules and procedures, and — depending on the circumstances — Fair Housing and disability-related protections.

DFOWW Incorporated has experienced how difficult it can be to identify an organization able and willing to assist with complicated housing issues involving disability accommodations, Fair Housing protections, and interactions with a housing authority.

That experience reinforced something important: People need accessible education about their housing rights before they find themselves in a crisis. Our goal is not to replace attorneys, legal-aid organizations, housing authorities, or government agencies. Our goal is education.

We want community members to better understand basic Fair Housing and tenant-rights concepts, recognize questions they may need to ask, learn how to document housing concerns, and understand where they may be able to seek additional assistance.

This is part of our broader belief that: ❤️ EDUCATION + NUTRITION = EMPOWERMENT.

WHY THIS MATTERS IN GEORGIA

The importance of understanding reasonable accommodations is not theoretical. In 2022, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a Voluntary Compliance Agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta following a federal compliance review involving disability-related reasonable accommodations and modifications.

HUD reported that its review identified concerns involving the processing and oversight of reasonable accommodation requests, including delays by housing providers under Atlanta Housing’s oversight and insufficient recordkeeping. The agreement required changes that included additional training, monitoring, monthly audits of reasonable accommodation logs, updated policies and procedures, and increased oversight.

The point is not that every housing problem is a fair housing violation. The point is that housing systems can be complicated. Understanding the process, asking questions, maintaining your records, and knowing how to communicate about your situation can be important.

For people with disabilities and the professionals and caregivers who assist them, learning how reasonable accommodation requests are documented and handled can be an important part of navigating the housing system. That is one of the practical reasons DFOWW Incorporated created this workshop. Because where people live matters. Housing is closely connected to health, safety, stability, and overall well-being. When individuals and families cannot understand or navigate a complicated housing system, the consequences can extend far beyond paperwork.

A person may be trying to:

Obtain safe and stable housing, Maintain a Housing Choice Voucher, Request a reasonable accommodation, Respond to a housing decision, Address unsafe housing conditions, Navigate a fair housing complaint, Understand what to do after receiving a housing decision.

For a low-income senior citizen, difficulty navigating the housing system may create additional barriers to stable housing. For a person with a disability, not understanding the reasonable accommodation process may make it harder to obtain an accommodation needed to access or maintain housing. For a family with children, housing instability or unsafe housing conditions can affect the entire household. For a caregiver, understanding the housing rights and responsibilities of the person they assist can be important.

For case managers, therapists, behavioral health professionals, social-service professionals, healthcare providers, and other community professionals serving vulnerable individuals and families, understanding basic fair housing principles can help them recognize when a housing concern may require documentation, referral, housing advocacy, or qualified legal assistance. These professionals do not need to become attorneys or housing experts.

However, when someone says:

“My landlord denied my request.”

“The Housing Authority said my documentation was not enough.”

“They told me something important over the phone.”

“I received a decision but I do not know what to do next.”

Understanding basic housing concepts can make a meaningful difference.

WHO INVESTIGATES FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINTS?

When people file a fair housing complaint, they may assume the agency handling the complaint will automatically conduct a complete and impartial investigation. It is important to understand how the system works. HUD is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

FHAP stands for the Fair Housing Assistance Program. Through FHAP, HUD works with qualified state and local fair-housing agencies and provides funding, training, and technical assistance for fair-housing enforcement activities. HUD also monitors FHAP investigations through its Fair Housing Enforcement Management System (HEMS). HUD states that information from HEMS is used to monitor the quality of FHAP investigations and determine the amount agencies should be paid for performing investigations.

GCEO, the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity, participates in FHAP and investigates certain fair-housing complaints. This does not establish that GCEO receives a special payment or bonus for issuing a “No Cause” determination or for obtaining a voluntary closure. The available information does not establish that.

WHY OVERSIGHT MATTERS

HUD’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has previously identified weaknesses involving the documentation and oversight of certain fair-housing inquiries handled by HUD and FHAP agencies.

In a 2022 audit, the OIG found that some inquiries closed during the intake stage did not contain enough documentation to explain why they were closed or what information supported the jurisdiction decision. The OIG also found that some inquiries that FHAP agencies decided not to investigate were not entered into HUD’s system.

The OIG said this created a gap in HUD’s ability to oversee those closure decisions and recommended stronger procedures for oversight and documentation.

This does not mean every FHAP investigation is improper. It does mean that documentation, transparency, and oversight matter.

AN EXAMPLE: APPROVED ON PAPER, BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN PRACTICE?

Consider a disability-related housing case involving a Housing Choice Voucher participant who requested a reasonable accommodation to relocate from housing the tenant reported was affecting the tenant’s disability.

In this case, the lease-expiration date was known well before the accommodation was approved.

The landlord’s August 2024 written notice identified February 28, 2025 as the lease expiration date and copied Atlanta Housing on the communication.

Atlanta Housing’s records also reflected the February 2025 expiration date.

In November 2024, an Atlanta Housing executive wrote that “Time is critical” and stated that the goal was to align the new lease with the existing lease expiration date of February 28, 2025.

The reasonable accommodation was later approved on December 11, 2024, and the Housing Choice Voucher was issued on December 23, 2024.

GCEO’s subsequent investigation acknowledged that the remaining timeframe for securing alternative housing was a “limited timeframe.” 

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

Someone looking only at the approval date might ask:

“The accommodation was approved. Why couldn’t the tenant simply move?”

But a Housing Choice Voucher approval does not automatically place someone in a new home.

After approval, a tenant may still need to:

Find a participating landlord, Find housing that meets the person’s needs, Complete required paperwork, Submit the Request for Tenancy Approval, Complete rent approval or rent negotiations, Complete the required inspection, Correct inspection problems if necessary, Complete a reinspection if necessary, Receive final approval, Execute the lease, Arrange utilities, Arrange transportation or movers, Actually relocate. For a person with a disability, these steps can require additional time, coordination, energy, and support.

APPROVED DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN PROVIDED

This is why “approved” and “provided” should not automatically be treated as the same thing. An accommodation can be approved on paper while the person still has to complete multiple steps before the accommodation can actually be used.

The important practical questions are: When was the accommodation requested? When was it approved? What had to happen after approval? How long did those steps realistically take? When could the person actually use the accommodation? Did the person have a meaningful opportunity to benefit from the accommodation before the existing housing arrangement ended?

A reasonable accommodation is intended to provide a person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy housing. That means the real-world implementation of an accommodation matters—not just the approval date.

YOUR RIGHTS DO NOT DEPEND ON BLIND TRUST

A fair-housing agency may have a responsibility to conduct an objective investigation.

But a statement that an agency is neutral does not guarantee that every individual investigation will be error-free.

That is why documentation matters.

If you file a fair-housing complaint:

• Keep a complete copy of your complaint.

• Keep your supporting evidence.

• Save emails and letters.

• Document important telephone conversations.

• Keep a timeline of important dates.

• Ask what stage your complaint is in.

• Ask whether it has become a formal complaint.

• Ask whether the agency has determined that it has jurisdiction.

• If the matter is closed, ask why it was closed and what information supported the decision.

• Keep your records even after the agency reaches a decision.

DON’T LET SOMEONE TELL YOU, “MOST OF THESE COMPLAINTS GET DISMISSED ANYWAY.”

People may hear statements like this from people who have experience with the system.

But unless reliable statistics support such a statement, do not assume it is true for every fair-housing complaint or every fair-housing agency.

Instead, ask:

What happened to my complaint? Why was it closed? What information was considered? What evidence supports the decision? What options do I have after the decision?

The purpose of filing a complaint is not to guarantee a particular outcome.The purpose is to report an alleged violation and have it evaluated under the applicable law.

A SIMPLE RULE TO REMEMBER

Approved does not always mean provided. Filed does not always mean fully investigated. Closed does not automatically tell you everything about what happened. Document. Ask questions. Keep your records. Understand the decision.

WHY DFOWW IS SHARING THIS

DFOWW Incorporated is sharing this information because knowing your rights also means understanding how to document and protect those rights in practice. You do not have to accuse an agency of wrongdoing to ask questions about how your complaint was handled. You do not have to assume that an agency is wrong to keep your own records. And you do not have to choose between participating in the fair-housing process and protecting yourself. Do both. Know your rights. Know the process. Document what happens.

WHAT WILL WE DISCUSS?

Reasonable accommodations, Fair housing complaints and investigations, Housing documentation, Important timelines and deadlines, Documenting telephone conversations, Following up in writing, What to save and keep in your records, What happens after an accommodation is approved, Conciliation and the housing complaint process, Financial losses and housing-related expenses, What to do when you disagree with a decision, What to do when you do not understand what happens next, Finding qualified legal and housing advocacy assistance.

EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

SITUATION 10: WHAT IF SOMEONE TELLS YOU SOMETHING IMPORTANT ON THE PHONE?

What do you do? Ask:

“Can you please give that to me in writing?”

If they do not provide it in writing, send a follow-up email that same day. You can email the person, their supervisor, or an appropriate staff member at the agency.

For example:

“Thank you for speaking with me today. My understanding from our conversation is that…”

Then explain what you understood.

Why?

Now there is a written record of your understanding. If you misunderstood something, the other person has an opportunity to correct it.

Remember: IF IT IS IMPORTANT, GET IT IN WRITING.

SITUATION 6: WHAT IF YOU ALREADY GAVE THEM A LETTER FROM YOUR DOCTOR?

You gave the Housing Authority a letter from your doctor.

They say:

“This does not establish the nexus.”

What do you do?

Do not simply send your doctor another letter and hope it works.

First ask:

“Please identify what information you believe is missing from the documentation already provided and what information specifically you believe would cure the deficiency.”

Then ask:

“What specific issue needs clarification?”

Take the Housing Authority’s response to your qualified medical provider.

Remember:

Your doctor—not you—should determine what professional medical information is appropriate to provide.

Your job is to make sure your provider understands what question needs to be addressed. Remember to ask the Housing Authority in writing and request written confirmation of its responses.

These are only examples.

The workshop goes much further.

ASK. WRITE IT DOWN. SAVE IT. FOLLOW UP. BUILD YOUR RECORD. KNOW WHERE TO GET HELP.

JOIN US FOR A DAY OF LEARNING

FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS: FROM PAPER TO REAL LIFE

Saturday, October 17, 2026 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center 10 College St NW Norcross, GA 30071

(678) 977-9703

FREE CATERED LUNCH FROM OLIVE GARDEN ITALIAN RESTAURANT. FREE PARKING.

Virtual participation is available for people who cannot attend in person or who live outside Georgia. In-person seating is limited. Register now.

REGISTRATION

https://dfoww.org/write-right-nutrition-program-housing-education-workshop-registration/

WORKSHOP FEES

ATTEND IN PERSON OR PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY

EARLY REGISTRATION — SAVE $10

MONEY IS TIGHT. WE UNDERSTAND.

That is why DFOWW Incorporated is offering $10 OFF the applicable workshop registration fee when you register AND pay by Friday, October 2, 2026.

IF YOU RECEIVE SNAP OR TANF — SAVE $10 OFF YOUR APPLICABLE REGISTRATION FEE.

Early registration rates:

• $15 — Single low-income household receiving SNAP or TANF. Regularly $25.

• $30 — Couples or households with children receiving SNAP or TANF. Regularly $40.

• $65 — Individuals not receiving SNAP or TANF. Regularly $75.

• FREE — Children under 18 accompanying a registered adult. All paid registrants and their children will receive free catered lunch from Olive Garden.

After October 2, 2026, the standard registration fees apply.

You do not have to travel to Norcross to participate. If you cannot attend in person, virtual participation is available from wherever you are.

Register and pay by October 2nd to receive the $10 early-registration savings.

This is an educational workshop only. It does not provide legal advice or legal representation and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Low-income tenants, Senior citizens, People with disabilities, Section 8 participants, Housing Choice Voucher participants, Public-housing residents, Families with children, Caregivers assisting seniors, people with disabilities, or others with housing needs. Case managers, Therapists and behavioral health professionals, Social-service professionals, Healthcare and community professionals who work with vulnerable individuals and families. Individuals experiencing housing discrimination. People requesting reasonable accommodations. People currently navigating a fair housing complaint or investigation.

WHY SHOULD CAREGIVERS, CASE MANAGERS, THERAPISTS, AND OTHER SERVICE PROFESSIONALS UNDERSTAND FAIR HOUSING?

A housing problem can quickly become a health, safety, financial, family, or stability problem. Professionals may be among the first people to hear about a housing problem.

A client may mention:

A reasonable accommodation was denied.

A landlord or housing agency requested additional information.

A Housing Authority said something important by phone.

The person does not understand a written notice.

A housing deadline is approaching.

The person is having difficulty finding housing with a voucher.

The person believes discrimination occurred.

An accommodation was approved, but the person still cannot access what they need.

The person received a decision but does not know what to do next.

Understanding basic fair housing concepts can help a professional recognize when a concern may require documentation, additional questions, a referral, qualified housing advocacy, or legal assistance. The goal is not for caregivers, case managers, therapists, healthcare providers, or other professionals to provide legal advice.

The goal is to recognize housing-related concerns and understand why connecting people with appropriate housing education, advocacy, or legal resources can matter.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A LEGAL EXPERT

The goal is to understand the process, organize records, ask informed questions, and know where to look for qualified legal or housing advocacy assistance.

A MESSAGE FROM DFOWW INCORPORATED

Health literacy is more than knowing information. It is about finding information, understanding it, asking questions, making informed decisions, and taking action. Whether we are teaching someone how to read a nutrition label, prepare a healthy meal on a budget, evaluate health information, or navigate a complicated system, education can help people become more confident advocates for themselves and their families.

Education + Nutrition = Empowerment. Ask. Understand. Take Action.

FROM EDUCATION TO TRANSPARENCY

At DFOWW Incorporated, education also means being transparent about how our programs work. We believe our participants, donors, community partners, and supporters deserve clear information about how the Write-Right Nutrition Program operates and how donated resources are used to support the community. Because DFOWW recovers and distributes donated food, we are sometimes asked how donated food can be provided through a program that still has operating costs.

The answer is important: the food may be donated, but the work required to recover, transport, store, manage, and distribute it still requires resources. We want to explain this clearly. We are not selling donated food. Participants are not charged for the donated food itself. Program Participation Fees support the operational costs of the Write-Right Nutrition Program, including food recovery, transportation, fuel, refrigeration, storage, equipment, insurance, educational programming, and distribution.

DFOWW Incorporated does not sell donated food. When a partner donates food, it remains donated food. Program Participation Fees help support the charitable program through which donated products are recovered, transported, stored, managed, and distributed. The amount and type of food available can change from one distribution to another. DFOWW cannot guarantee a specific brand, product, quantity, or type of donated food.

WE ARE NOT SELLING DONATED FOOD

Participants are not charged for the donated food itself. Program Participation Fees support the operational costs of the Write-Right Nutrition Program, including food recovery, transportation, fuel, refrigeration, storage, equipment, insurance, educational programming, and distribution. DFOWW Incorporated does not sell donated food. When a partner donates food, it remains donated food.

Program Participation Fees support the charitable program through which donated products are recovered, transported, stored, managed, and distributed. The amount and type of food available can change from one distribution to another.

DFOWW cannot guarantee a specific brand, product, quantity, or type of donated food.

WHY CAN’T DFOWW JUST GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY FOR FREE?

This is a question we frequently receive. The answer is simple:

Operating a nonprofit program costs money. When DFOWW Incorporated receives donated food, the food itself may have no purchase price.

But the work required to recover, transport, refrigerate, store, organize, manage, and distribute that food still requires resources. Those costs can include: Transportation and fuel, Refrigeration and freezer space, Storage, Equipment and supplies, Insurance, Food-safety and handling requirements, Educational and program expenses, Facility expenses. Program coordination, Community outreach, Distribution. Donated food is not the same thing as a cost-free food distribution program.

DOES PARTNERING WITH A FOOD BANK MEAN EVERYTHING IS FREE?

Another common misconception is that a nonprofit can simply partner with a regional food bank and receive donated food with absolutely no financial or operational responsibilities. That is not necessarily the case. Food banks operate complex systems that recover, receive, warehouse, refrigerate, manage, transport, and distribute food through nonprofit partner networks. Those systems require people, facilities, equipment, technology, transportation, food-safety procedures, and funding.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank currently works with more than 700 community-based nonprofit partners across its service area. Its published partnership requirements include nonprofit status, community need, Georgia registration and good standing, operating requirements, pest-control requirements, inspections, information sessions, approval, and training. 

The Food Bank also provides partner agencies with access to food and non-food items, educational workshops, grant opportunities, volunteer-program support, and other resources. Its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, report $3.36 million in “share contributions and handling fees.” 

This illustrates an important point: The food may be donated, but the infrastructure required to move, store, safeguard, and distribute that food is not necessarily free. The exact fees, services, pickup or delivery arrangements, and partner responsibilities can vary by food bank and program. Therefore, there is no universal rule that every nonprofit food-bank partner pays the same amount or receives the same services.

WHAT ABOUT PERISHABLE FOOD SUCH AS MEAT?

Perishable food can require additional resources because it must be kept at appropriate temperatures during transportation and storage. Depending on the program, this can involve: Refrigerated or freezer transportation, Freezer and cold-storage capacity, Electricity and utilities, Temperature monitoring, Food-safety procedures, Specialized equipment. Additional handling and storage.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank reports that more than half of the food it distributed in fiscal year 2026 was perishable, including meat and proteins. The cost of a donated product and the cost of safely handling that product are two different things. A pallet of donated food can have a $0 purchase price and still require significant resources to move safely from the donor to the organization and ultimately to the people being served.

THE SAME REALITY APPLIES TO DFOWW INCORPORATED

DFOWW Incorporated operates on a much smaller scale than a regional food bank, but the basic financial reality is the same. When DFOWW receives donated food, the food may be free. The work required to handle that food is not. DFOWW must have the resources to recover the food, transport it, safely store it, manage it, and make it available through our charitable and educational programs. The charitable food system depends on funding at every level.

Large food banks require warehouses, trucks, refrigeration systems, employees, volunteers, technology, compliance programs, and distribution infrastructure. Local nonprofit organizations also require resources to receive, manage, store, educate, and distribute food safely.

DFOWW Incorporated is no different. We are grateful for every food donation we receive. At the same time, accepting donated products creates a responsibility to have the resources necessary to handle those products safely, responsibly, and sustainably. Nothing about operating a charitable food program is truly cost-free. The question is not whether the food was donated.

The question is who pays for the infrastructure, people, transportation, storage, equipment, insurance, education, and other resources required to turn that donation into meaningful community service. At DFOWW Incorporated, we work hard to answer that question responsibly while keeping our mission focused on the families and communities we serve.

FUNDING HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE

Larger organizations may have access to government funding, major grants, corporate sponsorships, foundation support, paid staff, donated facilities, or other substantial resources. DFOWW Incorporated does not receive guaranteed federal operating funding to sustain the Write-Right Nutrition Program.

As a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization, we rely on a combination of charitable donations, grants, fundraising, community support, partnerships, and applicable Program Participation Fees to help sustain our operations. We cannot continue providing services that cost money to operate without resources to support those services. This is why transparency matters.

When DFOWW charges a Program Participation Fee, it is not a charge for donated food. The fee helps support the program and operational infrastructure that make food recovery, nutrition education, and community distribution possible. DFOWW Incorporated does not sell donated food. The donation may be free. The responsibility that comes with the donation is not.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION: DONATED FOOD DOES NOT MEAN ZERO-COST FOOD RECOVERY

A donated loaf of bread may have no purchase price, but getting that loaf safely from a retailer to a nonprofit and ultimately to the people being served requires resources.

Those resources can include: Fuel and transportation, Commercial vehicle insurance, Refrigeration and freezer space, Electricity and utilities, Food-safe storage equipment, Sorting and handling, Packaging and supplies. Staff and volunteer time, Food-safety training, Facility maintenance, Pest-control requirements, Recordkeeping and compliance, Administrative and accounting costs. These are real costs.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “FREE FOOD” AND “FREE FOOD PROGRAMS”

Do not confuse the value of donated food with the cost of operating a food-recovery program. For example, a retailer may donate 500 pounds of food at no charge.

The nonprofit may still incur costs to:

1. Pick up the food.

2. Transport it safely.

3. Inspect and sort it.

4. Maintain appropriate temperatures.

5. Refrigerate or freeze perishables.

6. Store the food properly.

7. Document the recovery and distribution.

8. Transport food again when needed.

9. Maintain insurance and equipment.

For an unfunded or substantially volunteer-supported nonprofit, these expenses can be significant.

FOOD-BANK PARTNERSHIPS ALSO INVOLVE RESPONSIBILITIES

There is a common misconception that becoming a food-bank partner automatically means there are absolutely no operational obligations. That is not necessarily the case.

For example, the Atlanta Community Food Bank requires partner agencies to meet specific eligibility and operational requirements. These include nonprofit status, established community need, Georgia registration and good standing, operating requirements, pest-control requirements, inspection, information sessions, approval, and training. 

The Food Bank also states that it is the central hub for collecting and distributing donated food and goods and managing the logistics and partner relationships associated with that work. Food-bank partnerships involve both resources and responsibilities. Some food-bank systems may use shared-maintenance fees, handling fees, or other forms of cost-sharing. The structure and amount can vary. The important distinction is this: The food may be donated. The infrastructure required to move, store, safeguard, and distribute that food is not necessarily free.

WHAT ABOUT NONPROFITS THAT RECOVER FOOD DIRECTLY FROM RETAILERS?

Some nonprofits operate outside the traditional food-bank model. They may have direct relationships with grocery stores, warehouses, wholesalers, restaurants, and other donors and recover food themselves.

These organizations may be responsible for even more of the logistics, including transportation, refrigeration, sorting, insurance, and distribution. The work should not become invisible simply because the food was donated.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture explains that the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act provides federal liability protections for qualifying food donations and distributions when specified criteria are met. The law does not eliminate the need for appropriate food-safety practices, and the USDA’s information specifically notes limitations on the protections. 

DFOWW encourages nonprofits and food-recovery organizations to understand their responsibilities and seek appropriate professional guidance when questions about food safety, liability, or applicable law arise.

DONATED FOOD IS A CHARITABLE RESOURCE — TREAT IT THAT WAY

Before giving recovered food to another organization, ask: Who is the ultimate beneficiary? Food donated for charitable purposes should be handled consistently with donor terms, applicable food-safety requirements, the organization’s mission, agreements, and applicable law.

An organization should not assume that because it is a school, church, government agency, business, veterinary organization, or nonprofit, it is automatically entitled to another nonprofit’s recovered food at no cost. The organization recovering, transporting, storing, safeguarding, and distributing the food is managing contributed charitable resources to make the distribution possible.

SUPPORT OUR MISSION

DFOWW Incorporated is committed to serving individuals and families throughout Georgia. Community support helps us: Recover donated food, Transport donated food, Safely refrigerate and store perishables, Provide supplemental food and essential items, Provide nutrition literacy education, Provide educational workshops, Purchase program supplies and equipment, Maintain insurance and program operations, Conduct community outreach, Develop long-term solutions for nutrition, wellness, and food security. Every contribution helps keep the program moving. If you believe in the mission of DFOWW Incorporated, please consider supporting our work.

WAYS TO GIVE

Website: https://dfoww.org/support-us/

Zelle: info@dfoww.org

OCTOBER COMMUNITY SCHEDULE

October 1 — Food Distribution

October 5 — Food Distribution

October 8 — Food Distribution

October 12 — Columbus Day Food Distribution

October 15 — Food Distribution

October 19 — Food Distribution & DFOWW Board of Directors Meeting

October 22 — Food Distribution

October 26 — Food Distribution

October 29 — Food Distribution

Hunger does not take holidays. DFOWW Incorporated remains committed to serving families year-round.

TRANSPORTATION AND DELIVERY

While we care about every community member we serve, the Write-Right Nutrition Program and DFOWW Incorporated currently do not have the resources to provide delivery or transportation to food distribution events. Traveling to a distribution or workshop can be challenging, especially for senior citizens, people who are homebound, and individuals experiencing transportation or financial barriers.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from programs and events. If transportation is a challenge, we encourage participants to consider asking a family member, friend, neighbor, caregiver, faith organization, or local community organization for transportation or ride support when available.

Transportation access is an important part of food security and community participation. As DFOWW grows, we hope to identify resources and partnerships that can help address transportation barriers. Thank you for understanding and for helping us make the most of the resources available to the program.

ABOUT DFOWW INCORPORATED

DFOWW Incorporated, also known as Daphany’s Fabulous Objective Weekly Workshops, is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals and families with children throughout Georgia through education, nutrition assistance, wellness programming, and community-based services.

DFOWW is not a food bank. We are an education-based food security program. The Write-Right Nutrition Program provides nutrition literacy, grocery budgeting, gardening, wellness instruction, supplemental food assistance, and essential community support.

Our mission is to provide disproportionately disadvantaged and underserved communities, families, and children with greater equality and equity through nutrition, health and wellness, academic literacy, book writing and self-publishing, entrepreneurship, and self-sufficiency education.

Emergency food assistance can address an immediate need. Education can provide knowledge and skills that last longer. The Write-Right Nutrition Program combines both. Individuals and families deserve nutritious food, as well as opportunities to learn about nutrition, healthy living, gardening, budgeting, food sustainability, and practical food security.

We thank our donors, volunteers, partners, and participants. Our work is possible because people invest in the mission. We cannot do it without you.

CONTACT US

Phone: (678) 977-9703 | Email: info@dfoww.org | Website: https://dfoww.org/

We are grateful to the donors, volunteers, partners, and participants who continue to support DFOWW Incorporated and strengthen Georgia communities. Together, we can support healthier families, create educational opportunities, and build stronger and more resilient communities through education, partnerships, and service.

Education + Nutrition = Empowerment.

© 2026 DFOWW Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.