What you wrote makes fine sense, although I imagine there’s a point at which having too many “we’re out” in a night or as a general reputation is a negative.

About your bakery’s bread problem: I’ve had some experience from the other side. Food kitchens are often overwhelmed with breadstuffs and beggars can be choosers. They’ll only eat so much bread pudding, french toast, and pan dowdies. Then there are some oddities, like the local soup kitchen that has its own bakery. So the explanation may be poor planning, shortage of resources, or actual lack of need.

I would like to say that the bakery I work for donates all leftover bakery product at the end of the night to soup kitchens and charities. We do what we can, but it is frustrating when the bread/pastries are not picked up as promised, because then we do have to pitch it–as it can’t be sold the next day.