If you have ever had too much produce from your backyard garden or orchard, there are local food pantries that will take it! See flyer below for guidelines and the list of current non-profits taking your homegrown excess.
Pantries Accepting Fresh Food Donations (Updated July 2023)
Below is a list of food pantries across Stanislaus County that have indicated through surveys or discussion that they are willing and able to accept donations of fresh foods (fruits, vegetables, eggs, etc.). If you are interested in donating fresh food to one of the pantries, please read the “Notes on Donating” column to the right for specific directions pertaining to that pantry. It is generally recommended to call the pantry beforehand if you plan on making a donation. This list was last updated on July 5, 2023.
For all pantries, please only donate what you yourself would be willing to eat. No expired or spoiled foods.
If you are concerned with liability, know that all food donations made in good faith to a non-profit are protected from liability under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (Federal) and the California Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (State).
Tax incentives may be available for individuals and businesses through the New Donated Fresh Fruits or Vegetables Credit depending on specific circumstances. Speak with your accountant or contact the CA Franchise Tax Board for more information.
Pantries, along with a map of locations, can also be found on: AmpleHarvest.org
| Pantry | Address | City/Town | Contact Person | Phone | Hours | Type of Organization | Notes on Donating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickman Community Church | 854 I St. | Hickman | Russ Caton | [email protected] | (209) 874-1180 | 2nd and 4th Fridays: 10:30 – 11:15 am, or another time during the week by appointment. Pantry open to church attendees on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month after church service. | Faith-Based | Can accept small amounts from community and farms (one or two boxes, no pallets). Prefer to pick up so produce doesn’t get left at the door when they’re closed. Please call or email Russ before you donate to work out details. |
| Second Harvest of the Greater Valley | 1220 Vanderbilt Circle | Manteca | Office | [email protected] | (209) 239-2091 | Donate Mon-Fri from 8am- 2:30pm | Non-Profit | Donations welcomed Mon-Friday between the hours of 8am-2:30pm. Call ahead of time is ideal for the warehouse team but not necessary. Call main line 209-239-2091 or Warehouse Manager Marcus Strickland, 209-490-5172 |
| Modesto Central SDA Community Service | 16th St. and G St. | Modesto | Carol Lee | [email protected] | (209) 521-6460 | Tuesdays: 10am- 12pm | Faith-Based | only things that keep (apples, carrots, potatoes, etc.). call 209 404 4604 before you come, We are open Tuesdays from 10 till noon, I can be there by 9:30 on Tuesdays. Park in the parking lot and call when you arrive and someone will come and meet you. Pantry is closed July and August. |
| The Well Community Fellowship | 2500 Claus Rd. | Modesto | Kelly Keye | [email protected] | (209) 730-3282 | First and Third Sunday: 10:30- 11:30am GAP is located in the South Parking lot, GAP building is on the left side of parking lot after you enter. All donations can be left under the GAP Awning–please do not block door. Call: CHURCH OFFICE-209.551.4463 or Kelly, Director 209.622.7328 | Faith-Based | |
| St. Joseph’s Food Pantry and Help Line | 1813 Oakdale Rd. | Modesto | Jim Montavon | [email protected] | (209) 447-2633 | Tuesdays and Thursdays: Regular hours are 10:00am-12:00pm; Summer hours are 9:00am-11:00am (June-Sep) | Faith-Based | On Mondays and Wednesdays, contact John Rodriques at 209 568-7557. On Tuesdays, contact Cliff Judd at 209 613-7017. On Thursdays, contact Jim Montavon at 209 447-2633. Please call before donating. |
| MJC Pirate’s Pantry | 2201 Blue Gum Ave. | Modesto | Jonathan Arias | [email protected] | (209) 575-7902 | two ways: by in-person appointment and every other Thursday via drive through from 9am – 10:15am | Non-Profit | We accept monetary donations (link is online); dry and canned food donations; only food that hasn’t reached its “sell-by” date yet. |
| Salvation Army Modesto Citadel Corp Food Distribution Program | 600 Janopaul Ln. | Modesto | Melissa Ekkelboom | [email protected] | (209) 577-3600 | Monday- Friday: 8am- 3pm | Non-Profit | We’re available Monday- Friday 8:00-2:00 to accept any food products for distribution. We can also schedule for our trucks to come to you. |
| Salvation Army Red Shield | 1649 Las Vegas St. | Modesto | Maria Arellano | [email protected] | (209) 538-7111 | Second Mondays: 9:30- 10:30am | Non-Profit | Will take small donations of items that don’t require refrigeration and can be given to children in the after school and summer programs (items like apples, oranges, stone fruit, etc.). Recommended to call first. |
| St. Paul’s Episcopal Church | 1528 Oakdale Rd. | Modesto | Jeni Statzer | [email protected] | (209) 522-3267 | First Wednesdays: 11am- 12pm | Faith-Based | Please call before you come, our food bank is volunteer run. We have our food pantry open the first Wednesday of every month, We also bring meals to the Salvation Army. We are very flexible on donations so just contact us and we will make it happen. no refrigeration/freezer, want produce but may have to be donated same day |
| Nineveh Outreach | 1601 Coffee Rd. | Modesto | Marcia Cutsinger | [email protected] | (209) 529-7346 | Thursdays: 7:30- 9:00am | Faith-Based; Non-Profit | Please call before you come, or need to arrange for us to pick up. Our contact is our Logistics Director, Bruce Shuttera, 209-552-5176 or you may call the Office number at 209-529-7346, ext 214. |
| Victory Life Center Foursquare Church- Modesto Love Center | 617 Winmoore Way, Suite F | Modesto | Michelle Dodson- Koorts | [email protected] | (209) 538-9700 | Tuesdays and Thursdays: 10am- 12pm Suite F | We accept donations Mon – Thurs 8 am to 4:30 pm and Fridays 8 am to 2 pm. Speak with Dave or Jeff. We can arrange for picking up the food from you if you would like, however we ask this is limited to larger donations due to the high cost of fuel for our trucks. | |
| Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus (FIGS) | 120 Kerr Ave. | Modesto | Naomi Pulido | [email protected] | (209) 572-3117 | Monday-Friday: 8:00am – 4:00pm | Non-Profit | Please call (209) 735-9533 before donating. You can also address questions about donations by emailing: [email protected] |
| Oak Valley Hospital Family Support Network | 1405 W. F St., Suite A | Oakdale | Cathy Dollarhide | [email protected] | (209) 847-5121 x 0 | Monday-Wednesday: 9am- 4pm Thursday-Friday: 9am- 1pm | Non-Profit | We accept anything as long as not too expired. Please call to arrange the delivery and to see if we can accept. |
| Westside Food Pantry | 20 S. 5th St. | Patterson | Abelita Lozano | [email protected] | (209) 480-4323 | Thursdays: 1:00- 3:30pm | Non-Profit | Call number beforehand. Have refrigeration units, so can accept larger donations. However, no large donations of produce that easily spoils. Someone on site on Thrusdays from 9:30-4:00 pm. Donations accepted at the front |
| Patterson SDA Church | 66 N. El Circulo Ave. | Patterson | Ted Baze | [email protected] | (209) 894-7696 | Second and Fourth Monday: 11am- 12pm | Faith-Based | don’t have capacity for storing perishable items; pick up produce from SH day of. No biblically unclean foods. |
| Riverbank Christian Food Sharing, Inc. | 3017 High St. (Scout Hall) | Riverbank | Lynda | [email protected] | (209) 480-6548 | Fridays: 7:00- 10:00am | Non-Profit | “Don’t give anything you wouldn’t eat yourself.”Riverbank Christain Flood Sharing can receive donations Monday or Thursday 7 am to 9;30 am. Items can be dropped off at the Scout Hall in Riverbank at 3017 High Street. If this is nt convenient donors can call me at 209-480-6548 and we can try to work out another time or place. We distribute food on Fridays so prefer to not receive donations on that day. We are open to receive any type of fruit or produce. We have a large walk in refrigerator so we can handle quantity. We serve about 90 to 125 families every week so any items donated are divided to be given to as many families as possible” |
| St. Frances of Rome- St. Vincent De Paul Society Food Distribution | 2827 Topeka St. | Riverbank | Guadalupe Zamora | [email protected] | (209) 869-2996 | Monday and Thursday: 10am- 12pm | Faith-Based; Non-Profit | They just bring the donation and we go through them to made sure there are in good conditions and that is seal. |
| Salida Food Pantry | 4942 Washington St. | Salida | Karen Johnson | [email protected] | (209) 996-7549 | First three Tuesdays of the month: 11am- 12:30pm | Faith-Based | can accept produce, but we are small and need to pass it out in one day or within a week if there is room to refrigerate. We have two refrigerators. “We need to be able to pick up fresh produce (or have it delivered) either the day of, or the day before,we see our clients. Also, we have limited refrigeration space. The optimum time for receiving fresh produce donations is the first, second and third Tuesdays of every month. That is when our clients arrive. Our doors open at 11 to receive our clients, so delivery at 10 or before would be perfect. We are generally there early to set up the food bank for our clients. The other option would be the Mondays prior to our Tuesday morning client openings. We could arrange to have someone there to accept the donations, or we could arrange to go pick them up.” |
| United Samaritans | 220 S. Broadway Ave. | Turlock | Linda Murphy-Julien; Billy Nix | [email protected]; [email protected] | (209) 668-4853 | Monday- Friday 9am- 3pm | Non-Profit | M-Friday 9am-3pm for small donations. If large donations(pallets, etc. call beforehand) |
| Enclave Community Church (GAP) | 581 E. Canal Dr. | Turlock | Phoebe Arakelian | [email protected] | (209) 667-5996 | Second and Last Tuesday: 1:30- 2:30pm | Faith-Based | produce must me brought to the church between 10am and 12pm on the day of the grocery giveaway (second and last Tuesday of the month). No opened items or badly out of date items.No transportation or refrigeration. |
| New Life Christian Center | 2918 W. Tuolumne Rd. | Turlock | Jon Nichols | [email protected] | (209) 667-5433 | Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11am- 12:30pm | Faith-Based | “Food can be dropped off anytime, Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Just ring the doorbell at our office door (northeast side of smaller building), or call us and we can meet you or arrange to pick up your donation.” |
| Emergency Food Pantry | 893 Lander Ave. | Turlock | Lissette Maunakea | [email protected] | (209) 669-5366 | Monday: 10am- 3:30pm; Tuesday-Friday: 9am- 3:30pm | Non-Profit | pick- up and/or dropped off from farmers. “Just call to make arrangements ahead of time, so we can have someone here.” |
| Hope Church of Turlock | 316 S. Laurel St. | Turlock | Anita | [email protected] | (209) 667-1191 | Fourth Saturday: 9:00- 11:00am | Faith-Based; Non-Profit | “Please call Hope Church office Tuesday – Friday 9am – 2pm to arrange for food donation drop off.”– can only accept produce week before last Saturday of the month. |
| Manna House | 132 E. St. | Waterford | Tori Crawford | [email protected] | (209) 303-6139 | Wednesdays: 9:30- 10:30am | Faith-Based; Non-Profit | do not offer produce but have capacity (refrigerators) ” We accept all produce donations. I am in the food pantry every Wednesday from 9am-10:30am. But can also meet at anytime during the week if needed. Would just need a call and confirm. “ |
