Donating to a food pantry is a great way to help your local community out. In general, donating foods you enjoy is a good place to start. However, there are some foods you shouldn’t donate as well.
General food pantry donation tips
Every food pantry is different.
We included some of the commonly used items. Your local food bank may not accept everything listed here.
Some food pantries stick to simple ready-to-go meals while others will take all the baking ingredients, fresh produce, and meats.
If you aren’t sure they accept something, there is no harm in asking.
What should I donate to a food pantry?
Canned goods
- Fruit
- Vegetables-bonus points for peas and carrots 🙂
- Chicken
- Tuna
- Soup
- Chili
- Spaghetti sauce/ tomatoes
- Beans
Shelf-stable foods
- Noodles
- Spaghetti
- Ramen noodles!
- Rice and beans*
- Baking supplies* (flour, sugar, oil)
*Check with your local food pantry to see if they accept these items. Some places will only accept canned beans and quick rice options. Many food pantry recipients want quick and easy foods, but not all of them.
Box mixes
- Pancake
- Muffin
- Mac and cheese
- Hamburger helper
- Stuffing
- Potatoes
- Cake
- Brownies
- Cornbread
Condiments
- Peanut butter
- Jelly
- Ketchup & mustard
- BBQ sauce
- Salad dressing
- Spices
- Pancake syrup
Drinks
- Juice
- Gatorade
- Drink mixes
Non-food items
Food banks handle more than just food. They’ll likely appreciate the following toiletries, paper products, and baby supplies! These items are not covered by food stamps or WIC and can take a large amount of cash needed for other things.
Toiletries
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Feminine hygiene products
- Soap
- Shampoo
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- Smaller & lighter than laundry pods
- Dissolves rapidly
- Less likely to be eaten by teenagers (hopefully)
- Does not melt
- 10 loads of detergent donated for every package purchased (See our review)
Paper products
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Napkins
Items for infants
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Formula
Sweets and snacks
Sweets and snacks are always good too!
- Animal crackers
- Crackers
- Popcorn
- Cookies such as Oreos/Chips Ahoy
- Chips that don’t take up too much space (Pringles-style)
- Pudding/Jello
Things your family enjoys eating
If it’s something your family enjoys, chances are someone will like it at the food pantry.
Money
Donating money allows for restocking food and other products that are running low. Food banks may even get a better deal by buying in bulk and tax-free.
Your time
Most food banks rely on volunteers. A few people make a huge difference.
Let them know you have some time to help and they may put you to work! The tasks typically involve sorting food, making sure items aren’t expired, preparing deliveries, and helping load them into vehicles.
Food bank shopping tips
- Find sales.
- It doesn’t need to be a name brand.
- Food banks can collect donations even if a food drive isn’t going on.
- Extra volunteers are appreciated after a big food drive!
- If you’re organizing a food drive, you can ask what the food bank is low on.
Donations are still needed even when there isn’t a collection drive going on. Contact a local church or look for a Facebook group and see if they can tell you how to drop the items off.
Items your food pantry may accept (check first)
These items expire quicker and require special handling. You should always check with your food pantry before trying to donate the following:
- Fresh vegetables
- Milk
- Eggs
- Frozen or refrigerated meats
- Bread
If the food pantry is open weekly, they may be more likely to accept perishable goods.
What should I not donate to a food pantry?
A frequently seen problem during food drives and collections is receiving a lot of unusable food.
Items you should NOT donate to a food pantry:
- Foods past their expiration or best buy date
- Rusted cans
- Bulging or dented cans
- Homemade food
- Home canned goods
- Opened or unsealed items
- Items not in their original packaging
- Foods most people don’t like
If items have rusted or expired, you should just throw them away. The same is true for anything that looks like it has had bugs or other animal signs. Please don’t give it to your pantry. If you don’t want it, it is very doubtful they will either.
Every item that comes in is sorted. Food banks see expiration dates over 10 years old more often than you’d think! The high score on expiration at one food bank we spoke with is over 20 years past the expiration date!
Thank you!
From food banks everywhere, thank you! Food banks couldn’t serve others without people like you willing to donate. Thank you for playing a vital role in feeding others!
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