Considerations in making an IN-KIND donation to our food banks - 

What food SHOULD you donate to your local food bank?
Our food banks accept dry and canned food donations. What does that mean? Basically, any food that is “shelf-stable” or nonperishable – you can keep it in your pantry and does not need a refrigerated or freezer environment. And remember, only donate food that hasn’t reached its “sell-by” date yet - 

Specifically, our food banks often need items like:

• Peanut butter/nut butter

• Jelly and honey

• Canned soup

• Canned stew or chili

• Canned fruit

• Canned vegetables

• Canned beans

• Canned fish

• Cereal and granola

• Canned sauces – spaghetti, enchilada 

• Boxed mix kits – macaroni and cheese, pastas, dried potatoes and soup starters

• Pasta 

• Rice 

We also love getting donations of:

• Vegetable, chicken or beef broth or stock

• Cooking oil – canola and olive

• Condiments - ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, soy sauce

• Dried herbs, spices, salt and pepper

• Flour and sugar

• Coffee and tea

That’s not an exhaustive list, but it covers much of what our food banks regularly need. Additionally, our food banks accept personal care and household items since many families struggle to afford them and aren’t covered by other food assistance programs like SNAP.

JCFBA food banks can also always use:

• Children’s diapers 

• Incontinence support products for men and women

• Period products

• Toiletries – soap, deodorant, shampoo, fragrance-free lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes

• Toilet paper

• Laundry detergent, dish soap

• Pet food – dogs and cats

What NOT to donate and other considerations -
The number one rule to remember is this: if your donation is perishable, i.e., it’s something with a limited shelf life if not refrigerated, our food banks likely can’t accept it. But there are other categories that you can’t donate. We've broken it all down into this handy list:

• Items needing refrigeration or that require a freezer: As we've already mentioned, this is the big one. Food like produce, dairy, and meat can spoil easily, and your local food bank may not have the refrigerator or freezer space needed to keep these items fresh. JCFBA food banks work directly with farmers, retailers, restaurants, and other companies to source these perishable foods for donation. Our food banks collectively make 51 food rescues from local and regional retailers each week. 

If you are considering donating items that need refrigeration or are frozen, please email info@jcfba.org or call 360-774-4680 prior to making the donation.  Please note - not all donations will be accepted.

• Expired food: When considering what to donate, think about what you’d be comfortable serving your family. Chances are, you don’t eat food that’s past its “use-by” or “sell-by” date, so avoid donating anything past those dates to food banks as it could be unsafe to eat.

• Leftovers: While it may be tempting to want to share the bountiful food from big meals like Thanksgiving or large gatherings, it’s best to keep leftovers for family or friends. To ensure the people we serve are safe, food banks can’t accept leftovers or anything made in personal kitchens because they aren’t individually sealed, and the food bank can’t verify the ingredients or preparation process. 

• Eggs from your chickens: Avian or bird flu has significantly impacted the supply and cost of eggs. We cannot accept eggs from you unless you are a producer regulated by the state or federal government and have a Washington State egg handler or dealer license. If you are, please present a copy of that paperwork at the time of your donation. We must have this paperwork on file at our food bank office.

• Food with packaging concerns: This includes food with damaged packaging, such as dented or bloated cans, packaging that is already open, or even items in glass containers, which can shatter and cause food safety concerns for any other food they’re stored nearby. A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't consider buying it new, don't donate it.

• Baked goods: Similar to leftovers, since food banks can’t confirm how your baked goods were made or their ingredients, they can’t be donated. Our food banks often have relationships with local restaurants or bakeries which will donate extra food that is properly labeled and handled to nearby pantries, soup kitchens or shelters.

• Used food containers: As tempting as it is to give used food containers to our food banks instead of the recycling bin, we cannot accept them due to food safety and health department regulations. When we repackage food into smaller portions, we must use NEW, clean, and food-safe containers, including glass containers and jars.