One in nine people in our state is facing hunger. We’re working hard to help those people in our community—we distributed almost 3.5 million pounds of the nearly 4 million pounds of food donated to our food bank in 2021.
That’s a lot of food moving in and out of our food bank—supplies we wouldn’t have without generous donations and wouldn’t be able to handle without volunteers. Do you wonder how it all works? Keep reading for the answers to our most-asked questions about donations and volunteering.
What can I donate?
We accept canned and packaged food—fruit and meat are the most popular. We also accept fresh produce and other food. See our most-wanted list for items for donation ideas.
All canned food donations must be four years or less past their expiration date. According to the USDA, canned foods are safe for years beyond their expiration dates as long as the can isn’t dented, rusted, or swelling. Shelf-stable items like dry pasta, cereal, and cookies are also safe beyond the package’s date. We care about our clients and will never distribute unsafe food.
When/where can I drop off food?
You can bring donations to our Provo location, 815 S. Freedom Boulevard, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you can’t make it during those hours, you can drop off nonperishable food donations through the chute by the warehouse doors.
We also accept financial donations earmarked for food. We can purchase 15 pounds of goods for the food bank for every dollar you donate.
Where do food donations go?
We send most of your food donations to our pantries, where clients can pick out what they need. Your donations also go to our partner pantries at schools, senior centers, and kids in need through our Kids Pak program at schools.
How can I volunteer?
If you’re interested in volunteering, it’s as easy as coming to the food bank! Our walk-in volunteers help restock shelves, assemble kits, clean, sort cans, and more. Walk-in volunteers must be at least 16 years old or 12 years old with an adult.
If you’re not interested in helping in the food bank, we have other opportunities, too. You can donate dinner at a Circles meeting, gather donations for specialty kits like the Nutrition Paks for kids, work in the community gardens, host a food drive, and more. To be included in future volunteer opportunities, you can sign up here.
We rely on donations and volunteers to keep our food bank full and functional. If you’re interested in more information about our food bank, donations, and volunteering, check out our frequently asked questions.