65 Non Perishable Foods for a Thanksgiving Food Drive
Our family believes in practicing an attitude for gratitude year round. During the holiday season it’s especially important to give back to those in need, and Thanksgiving is a popular time to do just that with a food drive. We’ve compiled this Thanksgiving non perishable foods list to help!
As a child, I can remember how much I loved helping organize the canned food drive at school each Thanksgiving. I know I’m far from the only one, as the holiday season (November and December) is the most popular time for food drives across the United States.
42 million Americans and 1 in 6 children facing hunger every day, making food banks always in need of unopened, nonperishable items and dry canned goods. Non-perishable food donations are a great way to give back to your community during the holiday season. Many families struggle to make ends meet during this time of year and may not be able to afford a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
Thinking of hosting a food drive at your child’s school, church or office? First, be sure to call or email your local food bank BEFORE you get started. Many have rules about the kinds of food they are able to accept, and can also let you know the items they truly need this holiday season.
Get the entire family involved with collecting the items on this Thanksgiving non perishable foods list. Our family actually loves to do a reverse advent calendar in December to donate two months in a row during the holidays. It’s a powerful way to start teaching your children about not only giving back to local families, but about the realities of hunger in our own backyard.
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Items You Shouldn’t Donate to Food Banks
As you compile your list, be sure to remember that there are certain items food banks are unable to take, like:
- Items in glass containers, usually because the glass containers may break easily and spoil the other donations.
- Opened items, as these can’t be served or provided to individuals for food safety and contamination purposes.
- And while this one might seem obvious: expired items. Be sure to check those expiration dates!
65 Thanksgiving Non Perishable Foods to Donate
Below is a full list of non-perishable foods that are great for canned food drives. The food items on this list have a long shelf life, making them a great choice for food banks.
At the end of this list are also non-food items that many food banks are also in desperate need of. Consider adding these items to your donation list as well!
This is a great opportunity to start talking about giving to others and gratitude. Consider playing this Easy Gratitude Game while you build your box of donations.
Here is our full list of non perishable foods that can last for extended periods of time before their expiration date.
Protein
Canned Chicken
Canned Tuna
Canned Salmon
Vegetables
Canned black beans
Canned garbanzo beans
Canned green beans
Canned pinto beans
Canned carrots
Canned tomatoes
Canned corn
Canned cranberry sauce
Pantry Staples
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Tea Bags
Instant Coffee
Powdered Coffee Creamer
Pasta Sauce
Dry pasta noodles
Rice
Dry Beans
Ketchup
Mustard
Canned soup
Canned broth or stock
Canned fruit
Applesauce
Breakfast cereal
Boxed stuffing mix
Instant Mashed Potatoes
Oatmeal
Graham Crackers
Crackers
Ramen Noodles
Salad Dressing
Cooking & Baking Essentials
Flour
Sugar
Olive oil
Canola oil
Vegetable oil
Garlic powder
Dried Oregano
Dried Basil
Sauce packets
Salt
Pepper
Cinnamon
Dry cake mix and icing
Maple syrup
Honey
Baby Needs
Baby Formula
Diapers
Baby Food
Baby Wipes
Misc.
Tissues
Clorox Wipes
Tampons
Sanitary Napkins
Adult Diapers
Toothpaste & toothbrushes
Body wash
Shampoo & conditioner
Bar soap
Over the counter medicine like Tylenol, DayQuil, Motrin etc
You might also enjoy these holiday articles:
Reverse Advent Calendar (Start December 1!)
100 Unique Ways to Say Happy Thanksgiving
Free Printable Thanksgiving Activity Book for Toddlers
Final Thoughts on Thanksgiving Food Donations
The items on the list above are just a starting place. Depending on where you live, and the unique needs of your community, your local food banks might be in need of other non-perishable food items. That’s why I’m reminding you again to please call the one you would like to donate to BEFORE getting started with your food drive.
While collecting the items on this Thanksgiving non perishable foods list is a wonderful way to help families in your community, monetary donations are also very appreciated by food banks. Whether you give a charitable gift, or donate grocery store gift cards, the support truly does matter to those organizations.
While it seems small, a canned food drive is a powerful way to start your children on the path to service to their community in a meaningful way. Remember that food banks need support all year long! If your family enjoys this, consider turning this food drive into a quarterly way to give back. You can also ask your local food pantry if they know of any free kitchens that are in need of volunteers to serve on Thanksgiving Day.
If you found this Thanksgiving non perishable foods list helpful, please share it on social media or pin it on Pinterest to help inspire other families this Thanksgiving too.
