KFC Jamaica donates surplus food to charities and shelters

What began in just a few restaurants has now grown into a nationwide effort. KFC Jamaica’s HARVEST Feeding Programme, which is part of a global KFC effort to reduce food waste, safely collects and stores unsold food from its restaurants at the end of each day, and redistributes it to those in need, including homes, shelters, and charities across the island.

This thoughtful outreach has steadily expanded and now operates in all 42 KFC restaurant locations across Jamaica. Each week, these restaurants donate meals to their surrounding communities, making a significant difference in hunger relief and food security nationwide.

Andrei Roper, Marketing Manager at KFC Jamaica, noted that since the start of this year, the Harvest programme has donated close to half a million pieces of chicken, wings, tenders, biscuits, and other surplus KFC food items to their charitable partners. These products, unsold at the end of each day but still perfectly fit for consumption, are now redirected to bring relief and nourishment to Jamaicans in need.

“The Harvest Programme reflects a part of who we are as a brand,” Roper said. “It is about using what we have to make a difference in people’s lives. If there’s food that can help someone, we make sure it does. We must commend our amazing charity partners who do so much in our communities to help the less fortunate. We are more than happy and willing to provide support through what we are best known for – our food.”

Charity partners coordinate weekly collections from KFC restaurants, ensuring safe storage, transport, and distribution of meals. This includes partnerships with organizations such as The Salvation Army, Food For The Poor, and children’s homes like Hanbury Home in Manchester and Maxfield Park Children’s Home in Kingston, plus many others across the island.

Major Henry Leconte, Manager of the Salvation Army Hanbury Home for Children, shared, “Since KFC has been supporting us with chicken, the children have enjoyed it so much. It has brought them great joy and has also helped us significantly by reducing our food expenses. In the past, we often struggled to provide enough food, but their assistance has drastically eased those challenges. They have been helping us for years, and their support has made a tremendous difference.”

Keith Haughton, Captain and Administrator at The Salvation Army Nest Children’s Home, also expressed his gratitude, “We care for children of varying ages, and it can be difficult to please everyone, but one thing they all enjoy is chicken, especially KFC chicken. The Harvest Programme has helped us provide not just meals, but comfort and a sense of home. We truly appreciate KFC’s continued support over the years.”

Marsha Burrell-Rose, Manager of Marketing, PR & Mission at Food For The Poor Jamaica, added, “Our partnership with KFC Jamaica has made a real difference in the lives of vulnerable Jamaicans. From meals for children in homes to support during disaster recovery, KFC has been a valued partner in extending care where it matters most. Initiatives like Harvest, together with Add Hope and Wings of Hope, have allowed us to reach more families, more children, and more communities than we could on our own. It’s about food, yes, but also about dignity, comfort, and hope for people who need it most.”

While KFC restaurants regularly donated surplus food to surrounding charities for several years, the Harvest Programme officially began in 2019 and has grown from a small pilot into a nationwide effort, reaching more charities, families, and communities each year. As KFC reflects on its 50 years in Jamaica, the programme shows how the brand continues to make a difference, turning surplus into sustenance.