We stock our pantry shelves with a mix of food brought to us by Food Gatherers and food donated by members of the Manchester community.
How to make a donation to our pantry:
Donated food items can be dropped off whenever our office or pantry is open. Please check the bottom of this page for our hours.
To make a monetary donation to our pantry, please see our monetary donations page.
Pantry donations are tax-deductible if you still itemize! When you drop items off, we can give you a piece of paper noting the date of your donation and describing the items you donated; for example, “1 bag of groceries.” According to the tax code, you may deduct the fair market value of the items you donate to our pantry. There is no fixed method for determining the value of donated items, we recommend holding onto receipts or keeping a list of the items you donated. For additional guidance, consult IRS Publication 561 – Determining the Value of Donated Property.
ITEMS WE ACCEPT:
Here is a list of products we try to stock that many families don’t have access to on a regular basis. We have placed an asterisk (*) next to items we are currently running low on.
Canned and Dry Goods:
We gladly accept canned foods and dry goods. They should be unopened and in their original packaging with labels, in good condition (no dents, bulging or rust) and within 6 months past their use-by date. We often run low on food items for special needs diets (i.e. vegetarian, low sodium, low fat, low sugar).
Low-sodium canned soups
Canned beans
No salt added canned vegetables
No sugar added canned fruits
Boxed rice meals
Boxed noodle meals
Salsa
Spaghetti Sauce
Baby Items:
Disposable diapers (larger sizes)
*Baby wipes
Personal Items:
Lotion
*Facial tissues
First aid items
Combs/hair brushes
Shampoo/conditioner
Cotton swabs
Liquid hand soap
Shaving products
Toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss
*Feminine supplies
Deodorant
Baking Supplies:
Flour
Sugar (granulated, brown and confectioners)
Baking soda
Baking powder
Salt
Spices
Shortening
Cleaning Supplies
*Laundry detergent
*Dish soap
White vinegar
*Bathroom cleaner
Kitchen cleaner
Glass cleaner
ITEMS WE DO NOT ACCEPT:
Given our limited space, the CRC rarely accepts or dispenses non-pantry items. If you have an item you think we might be able to help you put into a needy person’s hands, please call us to discuss your request.
A special note about clothing and furniture:
The CRC does not accept or distribute clothing or furniture. These items may be accepted by Worth Repeating (a NEW non-profit organization), open in downtown Manchester.
