Legal

Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Our Commitment to Privacy

Fresh Food Network is an Ohio-based nonprofit organization committed to connecting people with free food resources across the United States. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services. We believe in transparency and your right to privacy.

Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you create an account or use our services, we may collect:

  • Name and email address (for registered users and volunteers)
  • Profile information (optional photo, bio, location preferences)
  • Contact information if you reach out to us
  • Volunteer hours and activity history (for volunteers)

Usage Information

We automatically collect certain information about your device and how you interact with our services:

  • IP address and device information
  • Browser type and version
  • Pages visited and time spent
  • Location data (only when you use our map feature and grant permission)
  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies

Important: No Data Collection for Recipients

If you are accessing food resources, we do NOT collect any personal information from you.

You can use our map to find food resources, view locations, and get directions without creating an account or providing any personal information. Your privacy as a food recipient is paramount.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Provide, maintain, and improve our services
  • Coordinate volunteers and manage volunteer schedules
  • Send important updates about locations and service changes
  • Respond to your questions and support requests
  • Analyze usage patterns to improve the platform
  • Prevent fraud and ensure security
  • Comply with legal obligations under Ohio and federal law

Information Sharing

We do NOT sell your personal information. We may share your information only in these limited circumstances:

  • Service Providers: We work with third-party services that process data on our behalf under strict confidentiality agreements, including:
    • Vercel — website hosting and edge delivery
    • Mapbox — interactive maps and geocoding (receives your search location)
    • Better Auth — authentication and session management
    • Sentry — error monitoring (receives anonymized error data)
    • Anthropic (Claude) — AI-powered resource enrichment (no personal data shared)
  • Location Coordinators: If you volunteer at a location, the coordinator may see your name and contact information to coordinate shifts
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect rights and safety
  • Aggregate Data: We may share anonymized, aggregated statistics (e.g., number of volunteers, meals distributed) for research or reporting purposes

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

  • Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
  • Secure authentication systems
  • Regular security audits and updates
  • Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
  • Secure data centers and infrastructure

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to protecting your data.

Data Retention

We keep your data only as long as needed. Here is our retention schedule:

  • Account data (name, email, profile): Retained while your account is active. Deleted within 30 days of account deletion.
  • Volunteer activity logs: Retained for 3 years after your last activity for reporting and recognition purposes, then anonymized.
  • Analytics data: Aggregated within 26 months; individual identifiers are not retained beyond this period.
  • Support correspondence: Retained for 2 years after resolution, then deleted.
  • Server logs (IP addresses, request data): Automatically purged after 90 days.
  • Food resource data: Public resource listings are retained indefinitely to maintain an accurate directory. Resource manager contact info is removed when they relinquish management.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
  • Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (with some exceptions for legal compliance)
  • Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time
  • Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format
  • Object: Object to certain types of processing

To exercise these rights, please use the contact form below.

California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) provide you with additional rights regarding your personal information:

  • Right to Know: You may request details about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you in the past 12 months, where we collected it from, and why.
  • Right to Delete: You may request that we delete personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions (such as legal obligations or completing a transaction you initiated).
  • Right to Correct: You may request that we correct inaccurate personal information.
  • Right to Opt Out of Sale or Sharing: We do not sell your personal information and have never done so. We do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.

To make a request, email privacy@freshfoodnetwork.org or use the contact form below. We will verify your identity before processing and respond within 45 days.

State Privacy Laws

As an Ohio-based organization, we comply with the Ohio Personal Privacy Act and all applicable state privacy laws. Residents of states with comprehensive privacy legislation (including Ohio, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and others) may have additional rights similar to those described above. If your state provides specific privacy rights, we will honor them. Contact us at privacy@freshfoodnetwork.org to exercise any state-specific privacy rights.

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience. You can control cookies through your browser settings. For more details, see our Cookie Policy.

Children's Privacy (COPPA)

In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), our account creation and volunteer services are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

  • No account required to find food: Anyone, including minors, can use our map and resource finder without providing any personal information.
  • Ages 13–17: Minors between 13 and 17 may create an account with verifiable parental or guardian consent. Parents or guardians may review, request deletion of, or refuse further collection of their child's information by contacting us.
  • Parental consent: If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information promptly.

If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact privacy@freshfoodnetwork.org immediately.

Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. As an Ohio-based nonprofit, we comply with all applicable Ohio and federal privacy regulations.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please reach out using our contact form.