Food donations help us keep our kitchen pantry stocked, and allow us to make nutritious and delicious meals for our community throughout the year. 

Please note: Packaged foods must be unopened. We cannot accept food that has been placed out to serve. Prepared foods must have been cooled immediately to below 32 degrees or held at 135 degrees before being cooled to below 32 degrees. We cannot accept prepackaged food that has passed its stamped expiration date.

 

Inventory food supplies we always accept, especially those in bold:

Most Needed/Requested Items

  • Canned tomatoes
  • Legume-type canned beans (kidney, pinto, navy, lentil, black-eyed peas, etc.)
  • Corn
  • Fruit juices

General Cooking & Seasoning Supplies

  • Oils: Olive, sesame, canola
  • Vinegars: Rice, red Wine, cider, specialty vinegar
  • Butter (no margarine)
  • Dry spices, i.e. garlic, smoked paprika, oregano, basil
  • Dijon and coarse-grained mustards
  • Curry pastes (vegan, not spicy)
  • Nuts, sesame seeds
  • Dry pasta, i.e. penne, small shells
  • Couscous, quinoa, barley
  • Tomato sauce
  • Cake mixes
  • Coconut milk
  • Lemon juice
  • Half & Half, alternative coffee creamers, and heavy cream
  • Hot cocoa packets
  • Cheeses
  • Canned fruit
  • Canned tuna
  • Canned pumpkin

Fresh Produce

  • Fresh produce (please contact us ahead of time for large donations)
  • Raw ginger
  • Raw garlic
  • Fresh herbs

 

Loaves employees are available to receive items:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00am-11:00am or 1:00pm-2:00pm and Tuesday or Thursday from 2:30pm-4:30pm.

If those times do not work for you, please call  607-272-5457 to make an appointment. Please do not leave food outside.

 

FOOD WE DO NOT ACCEPT
  • Please do not bring dried beans (we do not have the kitchen infrastructure or time to prepare them correctly). Please consider donating dried beans to the Friendship Donations Network or place them in any of the Mutual Aid Blue Sharing Cabinets around Ithaca, Cortland, and Tompkins County.
  • No opened food package of any kind
  • No expired foods, or rotten fruits or vegetables