Best Practices for Donating Food

More than 3300 people each year receive food thanks to those who help stock the shelves at the Good Samaritan Food Pantry in Adel. Individuals and groups host food drives throughout the year to help families in need, donating about 22% of the food distributed at the pantry.

We accept donations of shelf-stable food including canned fruits and vegetables, soups, canned meat, pasta, cereal, juice, instant potatoes, boxed meals, mac and cheese, and other shelf stable food.

Before donating food, please consider the following:

1. Expiration date. Our dedicated volunteers check every donated item for it’s expiration date and discard items that are over due. Help us out and check the expiration dates before donating them to the pantry.
2. Has it been opened? If yes, please do not donate the item. We only distribute food that is unopened ensuring the safety and quality of the food that goes out our door.
3. Is it glass? Glass jars are a hazard for a number of reasons, so we appreciate plastic or aluminum packaging whenever possible.
4.  Does that pantry accept it? We accept food and some personal care items at the Good Samaritan Food Pantry, but we do not accept clothing donations, furniture, or household items.
5. When will you drop it off? We accept donations from 9am-11am Monday and Tuesdays. If you need to drop off donations at another time, please call (515) 478-3760 to set up a time. Please do not leave donations outside the food pantry doors.

We have high standards for the food that we distribute and for how we serve our friends and neighbors in need. Thank you for joining us in our efforts to create a community where everyone is healthy and thriving!