{"id":9131,"date":"2011-05-19T11:50:02","date_gmt":"2011-05-19T15:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/?page_id=9131"},"modified":"2025-10-28T12:13:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T16:13:29","slug":"4304e","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin #4304, A Food Pantry Wish List"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Food for ME: Citizen Action for Community Food Recovery<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"257\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignright wp-image-9137 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical-257x300.jpg\" alt=\"woman shopping for groceries\" style=\"width: 370px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical-257x300.jpg 257w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical-105x123.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical-317x370.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical-423x494.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical-634x740.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,257px\" \/><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Originally prepared by C. Joyce Kleffner, Extension educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Revised and updated by Kate Yerxa, Extension educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.<\/em><br><em>Revised and updated by University of Maine Cooperative Extension staff, 2024<\/em>, <em>2025<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For information about UMaine Extension programs and resources, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/\">extension.umaine.edu<\/a>.<\/strong><br><strong> Find more of our publications and books at <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/\">extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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&nbsp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.gov\/dacf\/ard\/food-assistance\/tefap\/index.shtml\">The Emergency Food Assistance Program<\/a> the&nbsp;on the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources website and use the Find Food Assistance Feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Food Items to Donate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protein Foods: Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, and Nuts<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>canned tuna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>canned chicken<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>canned beef stews<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>canned salmon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>bean soups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>canned or dried beans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>baked beans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>canned chili<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>peanut butter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>canned nuts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Grains: Bread, Cereal, Rice, and Pasta<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>rice and rice mixes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>canned pastas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>noodle mixes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>dry noodles and pastas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>macaroni and cheese mix<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>cold cereals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>bran cereal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>shredded wheat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>infant cereal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>hot cereal mixes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>oatmeal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>bread, muffin, and pancake mixes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>whole-grain crackers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>granola bars<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>graham crackers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>flour<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>bread<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dairy: Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>infant formula<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>nonfat dry milk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>evaporated milk<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>instant breakfast drinks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>shelf-stable (UHT) milk (small boxes)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vegetables<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>canned vegetables<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>vegetable soup<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>canned tomato products<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>spaghetti sauce<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>baby-food vegetables<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>V-8 juice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fruits<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>canned fruit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>raisins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>applesauce<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>dried fruits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>baby-food fruit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fruit leather (100% fruit)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>canned and boxed 100% juice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Oils and Condiments<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>vegetable oil<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>salad dressing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>syrup<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>jelly and jam<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>honey<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>sugar<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>mayonnaise<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Non-Food Items to Donate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain non-food items may also be welcome. Call your local food pantry to see what they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Paper Products<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>toilet paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>paper towels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>napkins<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tissues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Soap Products<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>hand soap<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>laundry and dish detergent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>cleaning products<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Personal Care Products<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>shampoo<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>toothpaste<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>toothbrushes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>shaving cream<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>razors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>deodorant<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>feminine hygiene products<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Extras<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>tea<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>coffee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>spices<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How you can help recover food<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To get involved in community food recovery, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalgleaningproject.org\/gleaning-map\/states\/maine\/?fwp_state=me\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maine Gleaning Resources from the National Gleaning Project<\/a>, or call the USDA National Hunger Hotline 1-866-3-HUNGRY or 1-877-8-HAMBRE &nbsp;operated by Hunger Free America or visit&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.whyhunger.org\/\">WhyHunger<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Food Recovery Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/feedingamerica.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Feeding America<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fns.usda.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.whyhunger.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WhyHunger<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small\"><em><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">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.<\/span><br><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a9 1998, 2011, 2024, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>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 <a href=\"http:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\">extension.umaine.edu<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you are encouraged to contact the System Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services at 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, Orono, ME 04469-5713, by calling 207.581.1226, or via TTY at 711 (Maine Relay System). For more information about Title IX or to file a complaint, please contact the UMS Title IX Coordinator at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.maine.edu\/title-ix\/\">www.maine.edu\/title-ix\/<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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, 2025 For information about UMaine Extension programs and resources, visit [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":416,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9131","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bulletin #4304, A Food Pantry Wish List - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"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.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bulletin #4304, A Food Pantry Wish List - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"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.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Cooperative Extension Publications\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-28T16:13:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"840\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/\",\"name\":\"Bulletin #4304, A Food Pantry Wish List - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical-257x300.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-05-19T15:50:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-28T16:13:29+00:00\",\"description\":\"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.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical.jpg\",\"width\":720,\"height\":840,\"caption\":\"woman shopping for groceries\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Bulletin #4304, A Food Pantry Wish List\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/\",\"name\":\"Cooperative Extension Publications\",\"description\":\"Information you can use. Research you can trust.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bulletin #4304, A Food Pantry Wish List - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension","description":"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.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Bulletin #4304, A Food Pantry Wish List - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension","og_description":"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.","og_url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/","og_site_name":"Cooperative Extension Publications","article_modified_time":"2025-10-28T16:13:29+00:00","og_image":[{"width":720,"height":840,"url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/","url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/","name":"Bulletin #4304, A Food Pantry Wish List - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical-257x300.jpg","datePublished":"2011-05-19T15:50:02+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-28T16:13:29+00:00","description":"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.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2011\/05\/shopping_vertical.jpg","width":720,"height":840,"caption":"woman shopping for groceries"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/4304e\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Bulletin #4304, A Food Pantry Wish List"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/#website","url":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/","name":"Cooperative Extension Publications","description":"Information you can use. Research you can trust.","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/author\/"},"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9131"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34285,"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9131\/revisions\/34285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}