Donation Guidelines

What You CAN Donate

Please ONLY leave unexpired & non-spoiled items.

If you wouldn’t feed it to your family, you shouldn’t leave it.

Pantry:

  • Non-perishable pantry items

  • Hygiene products, toiletries, feminine products

  • Baby food and diapers

  • Pet food

  • Reusable, plastic, and paper bags

Fridge:

  • All produce (fresh!)

  • Unopened dairy products

  • Eggs (with expiration date)

  • Raw meat should only be left in the freezer, not the fridge. Labeled with use-by date.

  • Home-cooked or packaged meals or sandwiches MUST be labeled to include:

    • Prepared Date

    • Expiration Date

    • All Ingredients

    • All Allergens

Note: Items not labeled properly should not be taken and will be thrown out.

Please DO NOT Donate

  • No expired cans or items

  • No dented cans

  • No unlabeled meals

  • No drugs or alcohol

  • Nothing that is opened, rotted, or spoiled

  • No clothes

  • No housewares

  • Nothing illegal

  • Please do not leave items outside of the fridge or pantry. If the pantry is full, please stop back another time.

Please do not take items from the pantry to sell.

Can I Donate Homemade Foods?

Yes, you may, however any homemade items need to be labeled with ALL ingredients, date made, and date it will expire.

Can I Donate Items From My Garden?

Yes, we love that! Please help our fridge stewards out by not donating TOO much fresh produce at one time, and possibly checking back to see what was taken and what wasn’t (and removing items that weren’t).

Can I Donate Eggs From My Chickens?

Yes. Please label them as from your home flock, when they were collected, and when they expire.

May I Donate Meat I Hunted or Milk From My Personal Goats/Cows

No. Please do not donate these items.

For Safety, ALL Items MUST be labeled with:

  • All Ingredients

  • Date Made

  • Date Expires

Unlabeled homemade (or restaurant made) items will (unfortunately) be tossed and should not be taken.

Homemade items are taken at your own risk.

Who uses this resource?

We are still collecting information about who uses this resource. Data collected so far shows us that community members both WITH and WITHOUT kitchen access use this resource. We like to have both cook at home and no-cook food options available.

What items have been requested?

We’ve had a bit of everything requested!

Here are a few ideas that have shown up a lot:

  • Ready-Made Items: easy for those without kitchen access to grab a bite on the go (consider including plastic utensils)

  • Shelf Stable Proteins: beans, nuts, canned meat and fish, protein bars, beef sticks. *try to find pop top cans when possible for those without a can opener

  • Drinks: Water bottles, flavor packs, iced tea, Gatorade.

  • Feminine Hygiene Products, specifically long pads for heavier flows.

  • Fresh Food: Eggs, Milk, Fruit, Veggies