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Nourishing
Neighbors in Need
Every food donation helps provide nutritious meals to individuals and families in our community. In 2025 alone, SVdP provided 157,579 meals to neighbors across Northeast Ohio, a reflection of both growing need and the generosity of supporters like you.
Whether you are a retailer, farmer, manufacturer, or individual, your support makes a direct and meaningful impact. Explore the options below to help relieve hunger, reduce food waste, and ensure good food reaches those who need it most.
Accepted Food Items
You can help us feed the hungry by donating food for all of SVdP’s food assistance programs.
To best serve our hungry neighbors, SVDP Northeast Ohio gratefully accepts the following donations:
Food Pantries & Food Box Programs
- Baby Food & Cereal (glass jars accepted)
- Baby Formula
- Cake Mixes
- Canned Beans
- Canned Fruit
- Canned Gravy
- Canned Meats
- Canned Soups & Stews
- Canned Tuna/Salmon
- Canned Vegetables
- Coffee (ground please)
- Granola Bars
- Granulated Sugar
- Hot & Cold Cereals
- Jelly (no glass jars please)
- Juice Boxes
- Packaged Pasta Meals
- Pancake Mix
- Pasta
- Peanut Butter
- Powdered Milk
- Rice
- Spam
- Tea Bags
Daily Meal Service Program
For our daily meal service , we are always in need of the following items in single or case quantities:
- Bread & sandwich buns
- Bulk meats, ground beef, chicken, turkey, roasts, frozen patties, etc.
- Canned fruit and vegetables
- Deli meats and cheese
- Dry pasta, spaghetti, penne, rigatoni or elbow macaroni
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Packaged desserts and pastries
- Pasta sauce
- Rice
- Salad dressings
The Daily Meal Service Program also accepts some non-food donations:
- Plastic utensils
- Napkins
- New/unused food grade clamshells or to-go containers
- Plastic grocery bags
- Resealable plastic storage bags
For the safety of the neighbors we serve, SVdP is unable to accept:
- Expired items are not eligible for donation
- Seafood
- Food that has been previously frozen
- Frozen products with visable freezer burn or discoloration
- Opened, resealed, partially used contaminated, or damaged items
- Products not in their original packaging
- Unlabeled foods missing ingredient information
- Prepared or homemade food
- Alcoholic products
- Flowers and plants
How to Donate Food
Individuals or Community Groups
Every effort helps support our neighbors.
Click below to register your food drive.
Farmers and Home Gardeners
Fresh fruits and vegetables provide important nutrition and are always needed.
Contact us to get started.
Bulk & Retail Donations
Your Food Donation is Protected by Law
When you give food to help a neighbor in need, the law stands behind your generosity, protecting you when you donate in good faith. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act provides broad liability protection for individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that donate food in good faith. As long as the food is apparently wholesome and safe for consumption at the time of donation, donors are protected from both civil and criminal liability.
At the state level, Ohio Revised Code Section 2305.37 offers additional protection for those donating perishable food, including fresh produce, to organizations serving individuals in need.
These laws are designed to encourage food donation and make it easy and safe to give. If you have questions about what can be donated, our team is happy to help guide you through the process.
Host a Food Drive
If you are interested in hosting a food drive, please get in touch with us at give@svdpneodistrict.org or visit the link below to register your food drive.
Additional Questions?
Contact: Laura McCulty Stepp
Programs Director