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.
Revised and updated by University of Maine Cooperative Extension staff, 2024

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 Emergency Food Assistance Program the on the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources website and use the Find Food Assistance Feature.

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, visit the Maine Gleaning Resources from the National Gleaning Project, or call the USDA National Hunger Hotline 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE operated by Hunger Free America 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.

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