Host A Food Drive To End Hunger
Food drives are a great way to unite your company or friends and family to support our community.
Start a Virtual Food Drive
A virtual food drive makes an immediate difference to end hunger in our community. Its an easy and fun way to provide food where its needed most. Learn more and get started now.
Traditional Food Drives
If you would like to hold a traditional food drive for the Food Depository, please collect our most needed items. When your food drive is over, please plan to drop off your food donations at one of the sites below.
LOCATION |
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4100 W. Ann Lurie Pl.Chicago, IL 60632 | Monday through Friday9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | When you deliver your donations, please go to bay #10 on the northwest side of the building on Keeler Ave. If the doors are locked, please call . |
Garveys Office Products | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Call with questions. |
Across our Network of PartnersVarious locations | Please call the partner site for drop off hours. | You are welcome to drop off your donations at our partner food pantries or programs. Please visit our map to find a location near you. |
Questions? Contact or
Frequently Asked Questions about Traditional Food Drives
Food drive donations must be:
- In the original container with the original product label
- Within the Use by or Best if used by dates
- Free of damage, stains or moisture
- Standard retail food products
The items most needed by our network of 700 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters are:
How can I promote my food drive?
Where Can I Donate Extra Food In Nyc
Where to donate food in NYCCamba’s Where You Can Food Drive. Bring canned food donations to any of Camba’s five Brooklyn locations to help stock the organization’s emergency food pantry, which feeds 4,300 Brooklynites a month. … Part of the Solution. … West Side Campaign Against Hunger.Nov 10, 2017
Are Canned Food Donations Tax Deductible
The short answer is yes. However, there are some rules you must follow to write off the value of your canned food donation on your tax return. The first thing youll want to confirm is that the place youre donating to is a tax-exempt organization. The IRS has a list of organizations on its website, which you can access using the Exempt Organization Search Tool.
You should be aware that not all tax-exempt non-profits will appear on the list. For example, any non-profit that is already tax-exempt will have an application on file. This includes churches, mosques, synagogues, and government agencies.
Also Check: Food Bank Of Contra Costa County
Best Practices For Donating Canned Foods
We all want to be good citizens and do some good with the items were donating. Here are some guidelines to follow:
- Donate the items that the food bank accepts. Read their guidelines first.
- Check expiration dates. If an item is nearing or past expiration, the food bank likely wont accept it.
- Examine packaging for rust, dents, faded or damaged labels, or leaks.
- Check foodbank hours to ensure that you dont make a wasted trip. Remember, Easy Donation PickUp will come to you, so you dont have to worry about that if you donate your canned food to us!
- Avoid donating perishable items. It might seem common sense, but its easy to forget that an item requiring refrigeration will not hold up on a foodbank shelf. This includes anything that needs to be refrigerated.
Dont worry, though. Just because you cant donate fresh food doesnt mean that hungry families dont have access to these items through a food bank. Food banks often coordinate with suppliers such as farmers, restaurants, and retailers to source these items.
What Do Food Banks Need At Christmas

Festive treats are appreciated as food donations at food banks during the Christmas holidays particularly Christmas pudding, as it often comes with a long-life use by date. The Trussell Trust recommends non-alcoholic puddings.
Chocolate coins and Christmas dinner non-perishables such as tinned pies, vegetables, condiments, and gravy are all appreciated this time of year. Festive treats for those who can’t afford them at this time of year are welcome.
Related features:
You May Like: Ohio Association Of Food Banks
The Food Pantries For The Capital District
As a coalition of more than 65 food pantries in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties we are here to help those in our community who need a hand. In these unprecedented times, The Food Pantries for the Capital District is working diligently to ensure that our local food pantries are prepared in the face of circumstances that are devastating to our most vulnerable community members. You can help!
On May 4th of this year, President Biden announced that the White House will host a Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health this September. This is the first such conference held in over 50 years.
The goal of the Biden-Harris Administration is to end hunger, and to increase healthy eating and physical activity across the United States by 2030as well as decreasing diet-related diseases and their associated social disparities. The White House reached out to key stakeholders for input to inform the national plan on how to achieve this goal.
The Food Pantries’ Submission to the White House
Find A Ontario Charity That Will Pick Up Your Clothing Donations & Other Household Items Donations
Donate clothes and other household items in Ontario. Charities such as Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and more will pick up your donations for free.
Donationtown.org is currently integrating all of the Ontario donation pick up charities and service areas into our database. For now, we recommend you contact one of these great Ontario based charities to schedule a donation pick up:
Recommended Reading: Food Bank Port St Lucie
Can You Donate Expiring Canned Foods
In addition to adhering to best practices such as abstaining from donating perishable items, leftovers, or homemade items, you should also avoid donating anything thats expired. Food banks will most likely check an expiration date before giving it to a family in need, but its better to be safe than sorry. As a general rule, if you wouldnt eat it, dont donate it.
Where To Donate Canned Foods
If youve got extra food crowding your pantry, you might be looking for a way to offload it to a worthy cause.
Whether youre moving house, doing some spring cleaning, or looking for a way to help end food insecurity in your community, youve likely turned to Google to find the best canned food donation centers near me or something like that.
In your search, you might have discovered that many food banks and donation centers have phased out the idea of donating canned food in favor of accepting cash. To avoid wasting more of your valuable time, check out this list of the top places to donate canned food in your area.
Also Check: Blue Ridge Food Bank Verona
What To Do With Leftover Halloween Candy In The Seattle Area
Twas not long after Halloween, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The pillowcases were stuffed with candy , in hope that parents would leave kids be without a care. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of Milk Duds and Dum Dums danced in their OK, get the point?
Before the stomachache begins and the sugar high wears off, heres what you can do with your households leftover Halloween candy.
One Of The Best Food Banks In Ballard Area
Ballard organization has its unique way of raising goods they need. You can check their Amazon wishlist or donate some much-needed kids favorites, like mac and cheese or granola bars. They also need food for adults, so bring those cans from the storage to them. Ballard has a home delivery program, and you can find out more about it on their website.
Don’t Miss: Middle Georgia Community Food Bank
How Do I Donate To A Local Food Bank
The donation process will vary from food bank to food bank. To find your local food bank, Villarreal advises visiting FeedingAmerica.org and entering your zip code into the food bank locator. From there, she recommends connecting with that local food bank. Typically, theyâll have a most-needed list of items of things you can donate.
Financial donations are also welcome at most food banks as are volunteers. âVolunteerism is a huge need at all food banks,â Guerra says. âAnd the donation of the dollar goes a long way also. In fact, with the increase of fuel, most food banks need the dollar more than ever to keep food flowing into and across their local service region.â
Other local meal programs such as Meals on Wheels also rely on volunteers to deliver and prepare meals. âFor many recipients, the trusted Meals on Wheels volunteer who shows up every day with a meal and a smile is the only person they see or speak with all day,â says Jenny Young, the vice president of communications for Meals on Wheels America.
And if youâre not in a position to donate food, money, or time, Davis says helping spread the word about available resources for families in need is one of the easiest ways to support. âNo Kid Hungry has a texting line to help,â she says. âFamilies can text âFOODâ or âCOMIDAâ to 304-304 to find community meal sites for their kids.â
Donate Your Sweet Treats

You can also send your sweet treats to organizations that will donate them to others.
Treats for Troops has multiple candy drop-off locations in the Seattle area. Candy can also be shipped directly to Soldiers Angels Treats for Troops, 2895 N.E. Loop 410, Suite 107, San Antonio, Texas, 78218.
Operation Shoebox accepts individually wrapped candies to be sent to troops.
Recommended Reading: Food Bank In Mesa Az
Eating Lifeline The Smartest Choice In The Rainier Beach Area
By preparing around 134,000 meals every day, this charity in the Rainier neighborhood provides essential support to people in need in their community. You can contact them on their website. They accept different types of foods, but you can also help them by volunteering, hosting a food drive, or donating funds.
Where Can I Donate Clothes Furniture Books And Other Household Goods In California
Charities in our directory accept your clothing donations and other household goods donations from the following California counties and cities:
Fresno County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County, San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara County, Sonoma County, Ventura County
Please enter your zip code on our Charity Directory webpage to find charities in your area that will pick up your donations.
Recommended Reading: Feeding America Find Your Local Food Bank
How To Donate To A Food Bank
If youre looking to make a difference in your local community and donate to a food bank, there are many ways you can do it. On their website, The Trussell Trust says, Were not sure about the impact of the pandemic will be on food stock levels in the coming months, so we really encourage you to support your local food bank if youre able to.
They encourage people to check what items are most needed on that day and donate those if possible.
Currently, you are still able to donate directly to your local food bank using the search feature to find the closest one to you, or through your local supermarket collection points. There should be a basket in your local supermarket where you can donate food to.
If you want to donate money instead, you can do this directly via The Trussell Trust.
Police And Fire Departments
Police officers and firefighters often carry stuffed animals and other small toys with them to comfort children at the scenes of traumatic events, and their supply of toys sometimes depends on donations. Reach out to your local police and fire departments to see if they’re accepting donations right now. For an easy way to donate toys to this cause, give your items to Stuffed Animals for Emergencies . This organization accepts gently used stuffed animals, blankets, books, children’s clothes and baby items, and finds organizations in the area that can use the donations for youngsters in emotional situations.
Read Also: Food Banks That Accept Food Donations
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
According to this food banks website, 20% of Los Angelenos face food insecurity, and this organization is on a mission to reduce that number to 0. The food bank has temporarily paused on canned food donations from individuals, but theyve provided a list of local Los Angeles-area partners that are currently accepting donations.
To find the best food bank to donate food near you, head on over to this directory. Enter your location and select a radius of up to 15 miles.
Northeast Iowa Food Bank
If you are moving from inside Iowa, or an area near northeastern Iowa, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank is an excellent choice for your food donations. The food bank serves 16 counties in the region, reaching out to an estimated 47,000 food-insecure citizens. This foodbank provides the food to 200 different nonprofits along with supplying its own service programs. It runs a garden to supplement the summer food it offers to the area.
How to donate food to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank:
Food can be dropped off at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Simply go to the door labeled Food Donations. Check out its site to figure out the most needed items or items that it cannot accept. Northeast Iowa Food Banks address is:
1605 Lafayette Street
Waterloo, IA 50703
Read Also: Houston Food Bank Volunteer Hours
Food Safety & Legal Liability
Food Safety
As long as your excess food was purchased from a licensed food vendor and prepared and handled according to food safety laws and regulations, we can rescue it! Feel free to review our Food Guidelines for more information.
Legal Liability
Donating food is legal and encouraged by the federal government! As a food donor, you are protected under the The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act when you donate food to a charitable organization, such as RLC. There has never been a lawsuit related to donating food. In addition, RLC provides a hold harmless clause in all of our food donor agreements.
How Do I Find Food In Nyc

Find the closest food pantries and community kitchens by using the Get Food NYC map. For urgent food and hunger needs, call 311 and ask for the Emergency Food Assistance Program. You’ll be provided with hours of operation and directions to the nearest food pantries and community kitchens.Jan 28, 2022
Recommended Reading: San Antonio Food Bank.org
What Items Do Food Banks Need Most
Food banks mostly need long-life products that have extended use-by dates or non-perishables such as tinned vegetables and fish, biscuits, and sugar for example.
Tinned foods are often the first thing people think to donate however, other store cupboard essentials like stock cubes, condiments and spices, and jarred sauces are also welcome.
How To Donate Nonperishable Food Step By Step:
- Step 1: Research what food bank institutions are near you to find where to donate food.
- Step 2: Find out which food items can be donated to that specific food bank.
- Step 3: Gather up all of the items that you wish to donate, being sure to stick to the guidelines on the products and provided by your selected food bank.
- Step 4: Once you have gathered the food, check to make sure no expiration dates have passed.
- Step 5: Check out the packaging on each of the items. Do not send in any rusty or heavily dented cans, boxes that have been crushed, or anything that leaks.
- Step 6: Take the food to the designated address during the appropriate time.
Don’t Miss: Donate Food To Local Food Bank
Why Donate To Food Banks Specifically
âFood banks generally are very efficient in their logistics processes, affording the food industry a one-stop place for donations that they can trust will be handled with best-in-class food safety considerations,â says Michael Guerra, chief development officer for the San Antonio Food Bank in Texas. âFood banks also work to equitably distribute donated food to local nonprofits that have food as a part of their missionâfood pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, etc.â And, he adds, food banks are often the primary organization in a community that aims at minimizing food insecurity among low-income households and under-resourced households in that community.
In addition to providing food, Guerra says most food banks also provide nutritional education and access to public safety programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program .
True Stories Alicia Sara & Mackie
My husband died last year. It has thrown me off the rails. I really had no idea how I would feed my children and afford rent. Thanks to Family Service, we are scraping by and I am back in school to get training for a new job.
Family Service Programs:
- Family Food Boxes | Backpacks for School
- Adopt-a-Family at Christmas
Home » Furnish Help » Donate » Donate Food
Read Also: Food Bank In Lubbock Texas
Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Banks can be found all over the nation. Although each Food Bank is its own entity, they all work together to serve those that are food insecure and aim to develop struggling communities. They collect millions of pounds of food each year, taking donations from grocery stores to limit their waste stream, from farmers if they have excess produce, and from individuals in food drives. The food banks often provide health management classes and help find pediatric care when needed.
How to donate food to Second Harvest Food Bank:
To find out if there is a Second Harvest Food Bank near you, conduct a Google Search with your area or state name and type in Second Harvest Food Bank. This will aid you in finding the address of the nearest one as well as their individual requirements for dropping off food donations.