Am I missing out on any charitable contributions?
Food and other items you provide for church or school events are deductible as charitable contributions. The related car mileage is also deductible at 14¢ per mile in 2015. Also if you travel for charitable purposes such as on a short-term medical mission or construction project, you can deduct your travel and lodging expenses as well as a per diem meal allowance based on the U.S. Government’s maximum per diem allowance. These per diem rates may be found at:
http://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem_action.asp?MenuHide=1&CountryCode=0000
For foreign areas, and for domestic areas click:
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentId=17943&contentType=GSA_BASIC
As published in Austin Monthly, May 2003 (revised August 2016)