Last week the New Jersey Assembly voted unanimously in favor of A3056, which would amend the Food Bank Good Samaritan Act to waive liability for school districts that donate excess food to the needy. This is both wonderful and a little bit crazy.

 

We’re glad this legislation will presumably help make sure that good food does not go to waste while people in need remain hungry. However, it is sad that the fear of being sued is keeping schools from doing the right thing in the first place.

 

Has our societal core of common sense and respect for humanity completely disappeared? In what universe is throwing good food in the trash out of fear of being sued while other people go hungry the rational choice?

 

It is time we stop putting Band-Aids on our legal system and tackle the fundamental issues that cause us to worry more about lawsuits than we do our fellow man.