Food Donations

 

Food Donation Sources

Current Needs

How Food Donations Help Neighbors in Need

Food donations from individuals like you are a valuable part of fulfilling the Food Bank's mission. When you donate food, volunteers check the expiration dates, then sort it for placement on shelves to be available for clients. Depending on the  volume of specific items, some food may be shared with other agencies or food pantries in Centre County. It’s helpful to check the Greatest Needs list before making your donation, or before conducting a food drive, to assure that you are making the biggest impact!

Food donations are also received through The Federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP), and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

Food drives are a popular way for community groups to give, and the Food Bank is grateful to benefit from food drives conducted by:

  • the Letter Carriers' annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive
  • the Boy Scouts' annual Scouting for Food drive
  • Grocery stories, local churches, and community groups
  • Student groups at our local schools
Learn more about how you can host your own Food Drive!

Donation Drop-off Hours

*Current hours*

Mon 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Wed 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Fri 9:00 am - 3:30 pm
 
*Please do not leave donations outside when the food bank is closed*
 
Other times by appointment (donations only)

Donation Guidelines

On a typical day at the Food Bank, hundreds of pounds of donated food are received from a variety of sources including individuals, organizations, church groups, businesses, etc. While the generosity of the local community is appreciated, some items cannot be used and must be discarded due to food safety guidelines and governmental regulations. The following list provides a description of products that cannot be accepted and distributed to Food Bank clients. 

  • Expired Items - All donated items that are past the expiration date cannot be distributed
  • Homemade/Home Canned Foods - It is unknown how and when homemade foods were processed, which is a food safety concern
  • Opened/Partially Used Items - Partially used items cannot be distributed
  • Dented/Damaged Packaging - Donated items that are severely dented or damaged cannot be distributed (including rusty cans)
  • Over-the-Counter Medicines
  • Bags - Due to health code and State College Food Bank policy, used bags cannot be accepted

Accepted Donations

Refer to the Current Needs List for the most up to date list of items the State College Food Bank is looking for donations.

FRESH PRODUCE: Garden items are greatly appreciated from any garden.  The following garden items are accepted:

  • Tomatoes
  • Cucumbers
  • Peppers
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Zucchini
  • Squash
  • Lettuce
  • Radishes
  • Beets
  • And more!

Non-Food Donations

Clients visit the Food Bank for more than just food! Individuals and families need non-food items like diapers, feminine products, personal care products (toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc.) and household supplies. Food Bank volunteers also need supplies like food storage bags, trash bags, office supplies, paper towels, and toilet paper.

To learn more about our current non-food needs at the Food Bank, please contact us at operations@scfoodbank.org or 814.234.2310.


Q: Do you accept venison or wild game?

Due to regulations, food pantries are not allowed to accept venison or wild game, except through the Hunters Sharing the Harvest program.  Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) is Pennsylvania’s charitable venison donation program for hunters who share their extra venison via a statewide network of participating butchers to Food Banks across Pennsylvania. HSH participating butchers, who are paid for their services through monetary donations, coordinate the meat deliveries and work with local food banks. The food banks redistribute the venison to more than 4,000 local food assistance provider organizations such as food pantries, missions, homeless shelters, Salvation Army facilities and churches, as well as needy families.   For more information, go to www.sharedeer.org.