DONATE FOOD
We offer a grocery-style pantry where guests can make their own selections based on what their families will eat. We take pride in making sure our guests have access to fresh dairy, produce, and meat. Food drives and individual donations help keep our pantry stocked with non-perishable food and personal care items that we otherwise would have to purchase. Learn how you can help!
Things You Can Do
Host a Food Drive
Help us replenish food items in short supply and those most difficult for us to source. Please contact our Food Drive coordinator at fooddrive@bpnn.org first for ideas, scheduling, and a list of the items that we need most.
Calling all gardeners!
If your home garden is producing an abundance of vegetables, consider sharing your bounty with the food pantry! Bring produce to our back door volunteer entrance during regular pantry hours.
Make Birthday Bags
Help us make a child’s birthday brighter! We are looking for groups to purchase supplies and assemble birthday party kits for the children of families who visit the pantry. This is a great service activity for any size group! Groups sign up to provide a month’s supply of 50 bags, each containing a few baking and party supplies.
Create a fundraiser
Get creative! Get competitive! Inspire! And raise funds for BPNN. If you own a restaurant or business, consider donating a percentage of sales on a particular item or day. Hold a bake sale, contest, craft sale or garage sale—and let us know what you are doing so we can tell everyone on our Facebook page.
Shop Our Amazon Wish List
Donate using our Amazon Wish List. Choose your donation among a variety of personal care supplies and other needed items. It's easy to purchase and ship directly to BPNN.
Individual Food Donations
We only accept non-perishable food items – nothing open, damaged or dented, past its expiration date, or needs refrigeration. Items can be dropped off during regular pantry hours at the back door Volunteer Entrance. Never leave items outside. If you need assistance, please let us know by calling (608) 848-2499.
Most Needed Items
Canned tuna, salmon and chicken
Canned protein beans such as black, pinto, kidney
Canned fruit
Hamburger and Tuna Helper
Sugar (3-4 lb bags)
Flour (4-5 lb bags)
Snack or Breakfast Bars
Paper Bags
Donations of personal care items such as baby wipes, dental care, bar soap and feminine hygiene products can be directly shipped to us through our Amazon Wish List.
Make it fun!
Consider creating teams – work groups, school classes, or grades–for a friendly competition to encourage more donations. Create an incentive for the winning team! Another idea: have group members “cast votes” with food items to pick anything from who will get a “pie in the face” to choosing the next team building outing activity or an upcoming school field trip location. Remember: folks will be more likely to bring donations if they are invested in the vote!
Pick a theme.
Some ideas to get you started: Breakfast Foods (cereal, granola bars), Winter Warm-up (soup, hot cocoa, tea), Summer Cook-out (condiments and salsas), Taste of Italy (pasta, sauce, canned tomatoes), Souper Bowl, Weeklong themes (Monday Mac&Cheese, Taco Tuesday)…use your imagination!
Share it on social media.
We love to recognize our supporters! Send us a photo from your food drive. Or let us know when you plan to drop off the donations, so we can take a picture for our social media channels. Your group deserves a shout-out!
Add cash pledges to the mix.
We can leverage our purchasing power to get the best bang for our dollar with cash donations. Collect checks or cash or create a GoFundMe page.
Know the rules.
Remind your participants that we only accept non-perishable food items – nothing open, damaged or dented, past its expiration date, or needs refrigeration. We also can’t accept home-baked goods.
Contact us first!
Let our Food Drive Coordinator know about your food collection activity so we can assist you! Items can be dropped off during regular pantry hours at the back door Volunteer Entrance. Never leave items outside. If you need assistance, please let us know by calling (608) 848-2499.
