Give food

VEAP relies on donations of all sizes to feed families and individuals in our community. Donations can be dropped off from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is no need to make an appointment. Simply pull around to the back of the building (stay in right lane when arriving if possible; you do not need to wait behind participants in the left lane for food). A volunteer will greet you at Door 4 to collect items right from your vehicle. We can also accept financial donations at Door 4 during normal business hours, and will provide you with a receipt.

In addition to shelf-stable food and fresh produce, VEAP also accepts and highly encourages donations of household products like laundry detergent, toilet paper, soap, paper towels, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant and all other home and personal hygiene products (including feminine hygiene items and adult diapers). We also accept pet food for our visitors with furry ones at home, as well as children’s books (baby board books, chapter books and middle/high school books. 

At this time, we can only accept frozen and refrigerated products from organizations in the food industry and items must be individually labeled with ingredients & source/origin information. For questions on this policy, please email info@veap.org

Too busy to drop off items? Shop from our Amazon wish list! Items are delivered right to VEAP’s Warehouse.

Consider donating items or holding a drive based on these special initiatives:

Street Kits: VEAP’s Social Services team supports people in our community experiencing homelessness with to-go packs. These kits generally include a backpack filled with warm weather gear and personal hygiene items. Learn more here. You may purchase those items on Amazon and have them ship directly to us.

Birthday Bags: For families with little ones celebrating their special day, VEAP offers birthday bag kits. These kits generally include cake/cupcake mix, frosting, candles, plates/napkins, and assorted party favors. Assembling birthday bags is a great activity for young people! Learn more here.

Diapers and Formula: 40% of the families who visit VEAP have children at home, many of them babies. VEAP cannot currently purchase diapers and baby formula on our own and rely on the generosity of the community to help supply these items. Learn more.

Questions? Email Caley Long, Marketing and Communications Director, caleyl@veap.org

 

89% of VEAP households worry sometimes or often they will run out of food before they have money to buy more

Healthy Food Policy

It’s easier than ever to purchase cheap calories—ramen noodles, macaroni and cheese, processed treats—but tough to consistently acquire nutritious foods on a limited budget.

VEAP is committed to providing high quality and nutritious food through our Food & Basic Needs Program because our visitors ask for it! Nutrition is a key component in maintaining health and preventing chronic disease. Strong evidence indicates those affected by food insecurity are at the highest risk for diet-related illnesses. VEAP believes that everyone should have access to healthy foods that are familiar to them. Children perform better in school, adults perform better at work and seniors have their unique nutrition needs met for optimum health.

Nutrition Guidelines

VEAP emphasizes collecting and distributing:

  • Fresh vegetables
  • Fresh fruit
  • Whole grain products
  • Food low in saturated and trans fats
  • Food low in sodium
  • Lean sources of protein (animal and vegetable sources, canned or frozen)
  • Fruit that is minimally processed (canned, frozen, or dried/dehydrated, whole, cut-up or mashed) and 100% vegetable juice
  • Products that are high in calcium
  • Beverages including 100% fruit juice, skim/low-fat milk, bottled water
  • Basic staple foods that tend to provide the best nutrition per dollar

When organizing a Food Drive for VEAP or when simply making a food donation, please consider healthy food choices first.