Food and Pantry Donations
How to Give
Approximately 15% of the food Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes distributes comes from community donations from businesses, farms, individuals, and groups.
Donations can be dropped of at Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes' administrative office located at 901 Portage Street from 8:00am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday. No appointment is needed. If you have a large food donation and are not available during these times, contact us for alternate arrangements.
Follow the PINK signs to our food donation doors off of Jackson Street (north side of building), and ring the doorbell for assistance.
Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes also accepts fresh produce from your home garden, local grocery store or market, or farm.
For helpful hints on organizing a food drive, download our Food and Fund Drive Kit.
For more information on donating food, please contact Brian Koenigsknecht, Senior Warehouse Manager, at 269-488-2617 ext. 214 or brian@kzoolf.org.
Items of Greatest Need
Consider grabbing a few extra items to donate to Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes during your next grocery run. Below you'll find items that are in high demand during this time.
- Jelly and Jam
- Cereal
- Canned Soups and Stews
- Meals in a Box (like Hamburger Helper)
- Shelf-Stable Almond or Rice Milk
- Baking Mixes (like Jiffy or Bisquick)
- Ensure® or similar protein drinks
- Canned Meat
- Shelf-Stable Tortillas
- Granola Bars and Children's Snacks
- Microwavable Foods (like rice in a bag)
- Special Diet Foods (e.g. gluten-free)
Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes does not accept partially opened boxes and bags. Please try to avoid donating rusty, badly damaged cans.
Non-Food Pantry Donations
We're always looking for ways to further enrich our client's lives while they're in our pantries, and that's why we happily welcome the following donations:
- New, Unused Canvas, or Reusable Bags
- New Manual Can Openers
- New Kitchen Utensils
- New Coloring Books and Crayons
- Unopened Personal Care Items
Monthly Food Wish List
Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes is always looking for non-perishable or canned food items that are high in protein content. In addition, there are staple food items Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes looks for on a monthly basis. Below you'll find a list of high-need items broken down by month.
These foods are essential and ensure that nutritional items are available, by choice, to local households.
- January: Beef stew
- February: Rice (bag or box)
- March: Canned fruit with no sugar
- April: Canned tuna
- May: Canned vegetables with low-sodium
- June: Healthy snacks with low sugar and low sodium including granola bars, fruit snacks, trail mix, and string cheese
- July: Canned fruit with no sugar added
- August: Whole grain pasta
- September: Canned meat
- October: Soups and stews
- November: Canned vegetables with low-sodium
- December: Cooking oil
