We are pleased to welcome you to the website of PFFood, Philadelphia’s charity food fair! It is important for you to know that we take your privacy and the protection of your personal information very seriously. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use and protect it, and what rights you have. We want you to feel confident and safe using our website.
What we collect and why
When you visit our site or attend a fair, we may collect different data – for example, your name, contact details (email, phone), and technical information that helps us understand how you use the site. We need this to make your experience better, to ensure we connect with you, and to organize our event as conveniently as possible.
For example, if you want to sign up for our newsletter, we’ll ask for your email address so that we can send you updates, invitations and useful information. If you are applying to attend – we need your details to contact and organize.
We also use special technologies called cookies, which are stored on your device. They help us to remember your preferences and to understand which pages are most popular.
How we use your data
Your data helps us make the fair and website better and more useful for everyone. We use the information to:
- Contacting you about the fair, entries and feedback;
- Sending newsletters and invitations (if you have given your consent for mailing);
- Analyzing site performance to improve functionality and usability;
- Complying with our legal obligations and the security of our services.
We ensure that we do not sell your data or pass it on to unauthorized parties for advertising or commercial purposes.
Who we may share your data with
For the organization of the fair and the operation of the website, we cooperate with some reliable partners – for example, companies that provide website hosting, mailing or payment services (if such are used). We only share with them the data they need to perform their functions, while making sure that your data remains secure.
Sometimes we may need data to comply with the law – for example, if the authorities request information under a court order. In such cases, we are obliged to provide the necessary information.
We may also share event information with partners if you have consented to this.
How long we keep your data for
We aim to keep your personal data for no longer than is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected. For example:
- Newsletter data is held by us for as long as you are subscribed to the newsletter and do not choose to unsubscribe. If you decide to stop receiving emails, we will delete or anonymize your newsletter-related data within a reasonable timeframe.
- The data provided when submitting an application for a fair or volunteering is stored for the duration of the preparation and running of the event and for possible future communication. Once the relevance of the application or event is over, we also delete or anonymize this data.
- Technical data (e.g. data from website logs or cookies) is stored for periods necessary for analytics and website maintenance, but no longer than a set period of time (usually a few months to a year).
In this way, we avoid storing redundant or outdated data to minimize risks and comply with legal requirements.
Security and data protection
Protecting your personal data is our priority. To do this, we use a range of measures including:
- Technical measures: encrypting data during transmission using modern protocols (e.g. SSL/TLS), protecting servers using firewalls, anti-viruses and regular software updates.
- Organizational measures: only authorized employees with the necessary security training have access to personal data. Internal policies and procedures ensure that information is handled correctly.
- Access controls: delineation of data access rights based on job responsibilities, regular auditing and monitoring of actions.
Despite these efforts, it is important to realize that no security system can be absolutely protected against all possible threats. Therefore, we recommend that you use strong passwords, do not share data with unauthorized persons, and report any suspicious activity to us.
Your rights
You have a number of legal rights relating to the processing of your personal data, including:
- The right of access: you can ask us for information about what data we hold about you and receive a copy of that data.
- The right to rectification: if you find an error or inaccuracy in your data, you can ask us to correct it.
- Right to erasure (right to be forgotten): in certain cases, you may request that we delete your personal data if it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.
- The right to restriction of processing: you can request that we temporarily suspend the processing of your data (for example, if you dispute its accuracy).
- The right to data portability: you may receive your data in a format suitable for transfer to another service.
- Right to withdraw consent: if processing is based on your consent (e.g. subscription to a newsletter), you can withdraw it at any time and we will stop processing.
- Right to complain: if you believe that your rights have been violated, you can contact a data protection supervisory authority (in the US, the Federal Trade Commission or relevant state authorities).
To exercise these rights, simply contact us at the contacts listed on the website. We are committed to responding in a timely manner and in accordance with the law.
Cookies and their management
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit a website. They help us to:
- Remember your preferences (such as site language or interface settings) so that you are comfortable when you visit again.
- Collect anonymous data about your visits and interactions with the site – this helps us analyze which pages are popular and improve functionality.
- Provide basic site functionality, such as session support and fraud protection.
You can manage cookies through your browser settings – block them completely or partially, delete those already stored. However, please note that if you disable cookies, some features of the site may not work properly or may not be available.
We use the following categories of cookies:
- Necessary cookies – enable the site and its main functions to work. Without them it will be difficult to use the site.
- Analytical cookies – collect statistics on visits and user behavior, without identifying individuals.
- Functional cookies – allow you to store user preferences and provide a personalized experience.
Children and safety
We care about the safety of children and comply with relevant laws. Our website and services are aimed at adults and families. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 16 without the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
If you are a parent or guardian and you discover that a child has provided us with their data without your permission, please contact us as soon as possible. We will take steps to delete such information and prevent further use.
Links to Third Party Sites
Our website may contain links to affiliate, social media or other organizations’ websites. We have no control over and are not responsible for the privacy policies or content of these external resources.
We recommend that you read their own terms of use and privacy policies carefully before submitting your data to them. If you have any questions, you can always contact the administrator of the relevant site.
Policy changes
We may periodically update our privacy policy to reflect changes in the law, our procedures or technology. All changes will be posted on this page with the date of the last update.
We recommend that you review this section regularly to keep up to date with the latest information about how we process your data.
If changes are material, we will endeavor to notify you additionally – for example, via a newsletter or a message on the website.