Food Donation Information

Food donations are always welcome and gratefully appreciated. Donations are especially welcome as we work to replenish our shelves after the difficult winter months or during the summer when many children are home from school and without access to the free lunch program. 
​
Plastic or aluminum containers are preferred over glass. Items must be non-perishable with no dents or cracks in cans or bottles and no torn or open boxes or containers. Please limit your donations to regular sizes, not super sizes, and check that all expiration dates are current.

---

Drop-Off
​Locations

• Wayne Y at 1 Pike Drive in the main lobby during building hours. ​
• Wayne Public Library during library hours.
• Wayne Municipal Building at 475 Valley Road in the container in the lobby of the Wayne Health Department during building hours.
• Directly at the food pantry which is located at the side entrance of the Wayne Y at 1 Pike Drive. Tuesday 9-11am, Thursday 9am - 12pm, Friday 11am - 1pm. 

Current Pantry
​Needs

Food donations may be brought directly to the pantry ONLY on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays during pantry hours or by appointment. Please call (973) 595-1900 to make arrangements.

Besides supplying families with supplemental groceries, we provide them with ShopRite gift cards so they can purchase their choice of perishable food. If you would like to make a monetary donation to help with this effort, please click here for more information about making a monetary donation. Donations of ShopRite gift cards in small denominations are also always welcome. Thank you. 

We can no longer accept the following items: clothing, including hats and gloves; stationery, calendars, greeting cards; craft supplies; toys; matzah; or individually wrapped packets of syrup, jelly, other condiments, or plastic utensils. Additionally please note that medical supplies of any kind cannot legally be distributed by the pantry and therefore cannot be accepted.

All non-perishable food donations are welcome but at this time, the pantry is especially in need of the following items: (in order of need)  ​

• canned fruit
• ​pasta sauce (canned or bottled)
• coffee 1lb cans - regular and decaf
• snacks (individual size crackers, pretzels, chips)
• mayonnaise (small jars but not individual packets)
• vegetable oil (16oz regular size)
• canned white potatoes
• jelly (small jars but not individual packets)
• paper towels
• peanut butter
• canned chicken
• canned vegetables (ie: corn, green beans, carrots, mixed vegetables, spinach, potatoes)
• ​mac & cheese boxes
  
• ​​​hearty soups (i.e.: Progresso, Campbells Chunky, etc)
• canned meat & fish (i.e.: tuna, salmon, spam, beef)
• healthy, cold breakfast cereal (cheerios, etc)
  
• baked beans
• hot breakfast cereal (oatmeal)
• sugar-free and gluten-free food items
• Knorr's rice/pasta side dishes packets
• instant potatoes and potato side dishes
• ​condiments such as ketchup & mustard (regular sizes)​
• canned protein like Dinty Moore stews, chili etc
• toilet paper, tissues (Kleenex type products)
• shelf stable or dried milk (i.e.: parmalat)
• bar soap and shampoo
• hamburger helper
• water & other drinks
• personal care (toothpaste, toothbrushes, ​conditioner, deodorant)
• Chef-boyardee products
• tea
• ​fruit juices and juice boxes
• rice and rice mixes
• cleaning supplies (laundry detergent, household cleaners, etc)
• ​pancake mix & syrup​

For food donations, please remember: Non perishable foods only. No foods that require refrigeration. No frozen foods. No expired foods. 

​Please also consider donating sugar-free, gluten-free, and no-salt food items for our families with members who have dietary restrictions.

We are always in need of paper bags. Please consider donating those you have that are in usable condition to WIN. Thank you!!

​* Shopping list updated May 10, 2022