Give food

Donate Food & Essentials to VEAP

VEAP relies on donations of all sizes to help feed families and individuals in our community.

What to Donate

  • Shelf-stable food
  • Household & personal care items (laundry detergent, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant)
  • Menstrual products & adult diapers
  • Pet food
  • Children’s books (baby through middle/high school)

Please note: We cannot accept bulk-sized food items, including pet food.

We can only accept refrigerated and frozen food from food industry organizations, and items must be individually labeled with ingredients and source information. Questions? Email info@veap.org.

Too busy to visit? Shop our Amazon Wish List and have items shipped directly to VEAP’s warehouse.

Current list of most needed items & items we cannot accept

Register a Food Drive

 

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

Special Initiatives

Consider donating items or holding a drive based on these special initiatives, ordered by current VEAP need:

Hygiene Kits: We all use it! Support VEAP’s visitors by collecting and repackaging toilet paper. Alternatively, you can assist our youngest visitors by donating and repackaging diapers (all sizes needed, particularly sizes 3 and up) and formula. We also encourage menstrual product kits (tampons, pads). Get more details.

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. You may purchase those items on Amazon and have them ship directly to us.

Express Packs: We distribute 25-35 express packs of shelf-stable items at our pantry every day! Support our team in donating, organizing, and assembling non-perishable food items for these important kits. See what items go into an express pack.

(CURRENTLY FULLY STOCKED) 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.

Children’s Books: VEAP distributes around 200 books a week to babies, kids, and teens visiting our pantry. Support young people by donating gently used or new books to us! We’re specifically seeking materials in Spanish. Please, no religious content.

Questions? Email us at donations@veap.org