Bulletin #4304, A Food Pantry Wish List

Food for ME: Citizen Action for Community Food Recovery

Originally prepared by C. Joyce Kleffner, Extension educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Revised and updated by Kate Yerxa, Extension educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

For information about UMaine Extension programs and resources, visit extension.umaine.edu.
Find more of our publications and books at extension.umaine.edu/publications/.

Take this chart with you when you go grocery shopping to help you choose healthy foods to donate to the food pantries, or use it to help you organize a community food drive.

Check with your county University of Maine Cooperative Extension office for a listing of pantries or food assistance programs in your area and accompanying donation information, or visit the County Search for Food Assistance Programs on the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources website.

If you want to donate fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables or other perishable food items, please call the food pantry first to be sure they can accept them. Keep these items refrigerated or frozen to keep them safe.

Food Items to Donate

Protein Foods: Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, and Nuts

canned tuna
canned chicken
canned beef stews
canned salmon
bean soups
canned or dried beans
baked beans
canned chili
peanut butter
canned nuts

Grains: Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta

rice and rice mixes
canned pastas
noodle mixes
dry noodles and pastas
macaroni and cheese mix
cold cereals
bran cereal
shredded wheat
infant cereal
hot cereal mixes
oatmeal
bread, muffin, and pancake mixes
whole-grain crackers
granola bars
graham crackers
flour
bread

Dairy: Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese

infant formula
nonfat dry milk
evaporated milk
instant breakfast drinks
shelf-stable (UHT) milk (small boxes)
canned and boxed pudding

Vegetables

canned vegetables
vegetable soup
canned tomato products
spaghetti sauce
baby-food vegetables
V-8 juice

Fruits

canned fruit
raisins
applesauce
dried fruits
baby-food fruit
fruit leather (100% fruit)
canned and boxed 100% juice

Oils and Condiments

vegetable oil
salad dressing
syrup
jelly and jam
honey
sugar
mayonnaise

Non-Food Items to Donate

Certain non-food items may also be welcome. Call your local food pantry to see what they need.

Paper Products

toilet paper
paper towels
napkins
tissues

Soap Products

hand soap
laundry and dish detergent
cleaning products

Personal Care Products

shampoo
toothpaste
toothbrushes
shaving cream
razors
deodorant
feminine hygiene products

Extras

tea
coffee
spices

How you can help recover food

To get involved in community food recovery, use the ideas in the Food for ME fact sheets, call the National Hunger Hotline at 800.453.2648 (800.GLEAN.IT) or 866.348.6479 (866.3.HUNGRY), or visit WhyHunger.

Food Recovery Resources

Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.

Call 800.287.0274 (in Maine), or 207.581.3188, for information on publications and program offerings from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, or visit extension.umaine.edu.

The University of Maine is an EEO/AA employer, and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Sarah E. Harebo, Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).