Patrick delves into the ethical complexities surrounding food waste and potential theft in the workplace. Is it ever justifiable to take home food from work, especially if it's destined for the trash? He shares personal stories and listener emails, ranging from experiences at Sizzler and IHOP to street ministry in Texas. How does one balance company policies with the moral imperative to feed the hungry?

 

• Is it theft to take food home from work even if that food was going in the trash? (01:11)
• Dave - I used to work for a sanitation company. I was in charge of sorting the trash. One of the first things that I found in the trash was a crucifix.  (05:25)
• Email – What does this have to do with bringing Christ to the world through the media? (09:29)
• Cynthia - I would go around to restaurants and take the left over food and give it to the poor. (10:51)
• Email – Taking from the trash is not stealing
• Tom - There could be safety reasons or health reasons or marketing reasons why the food couldn't be redistributed or the packaging might have an error in the ingredients. (22:27)
• Tony - I'm the Corporate Chef for certified Angus Beef. I opened the 2nd harvest food bank after Katrina in New Orleans and we rescue food from hotels and turned those foods and turned those into meals.
• George - Is it a sin to load up your plate at a buffet and not eat all of it? (29:53)
• Marty - I used to work in food management for 30 years and we would freeze food to help feed the hungry (32:56)
• Tony called back to finish his story (38:57)
• Kathleen - I frequent certain restaurants where the manager knows me and they comp my bill or take out an item from my order.  Is that okay? (43:06)
• Dennis - There's a good feeding program where I live and when I was volunteering there, the state passed a law that any organization that had unused food had to donate that food.
• Eileen - In Green Bay, we have an ideal situation, we have Paul's Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul. They feed 200 people daily. (48:03)
• Matthew - This is a beautiful movement, as the pro-life movement strengthens grows, we need these ideas to give food to the underprivileged