Need More information?
Contact our Food Donations Coordinator, Sarah Gotcher via email, or call (775) 636-7211.
Food Donation Partnerships
Helping Good Food Reach Our Neighbors
At the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, we rely on the generosity of growers, retailers, manufacturers, and food industry partners to help ensure everyone in our community has access to nutritious food. These donations play a critical role in supporting neighbors facing hunger while also reducing food waste across Northern Nevada.
This page is designed to help food and product partners understand how to make safe, appropriate, and impactful donations – and how working with the Food Bank can make a meaningful difference.
If you are looking to organize a community food drive, please visit our Food Drives page for more information.
Ready to Partner with Us?
If you represent a business, farm, retailer, manufacturer, or distributor – or manage surplus food outside of a traditional food drive – we’d love to work with you. Our team will help determine donation eligibility, coordinate logistics, and make the process easy from start to finish.
Contact Sarah Gotcher, food donations coordinator, today to explore a food donation partnership and help put good food to good use in our community.
Gardners and Farmers
We welcome and greatly appreciate donations of fresh fruits and vegetables from backyard gardeners and local farms alike. Your harvest helps ensure that our neighbors have access to healthy, nutritious produce – often some of the most requested items at food distributions.
Our team is always happy to coordinate with local growers to arrange large or recurring donations of fresh produce. If you’re interested in donating, please reach out to us! We can assist with scheduling deliveries, pick-ups, or connecting you with one of our partner agencies that distributes fresh food directly to neighbors.
Your support of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada nourishes families, supports community health, and reduces food waste – one harvest at a time.
Retail and Food Industry Donations
Donations from retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers are vital to our mission. By partnering with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, businesses can ensure that wholesome, safe food and other essential items reach families in need, rather than going to waste.
We gladly accept surplus products of all kinds, including dry goods, refrigerated and frozen foods, as well as personal care and household items. These donations help us provide a variety of nutritious options for the neighbors we serve each day.
Whether you’re interested in a one–time donation or an ongoing partnership, our team makes the process simple and efficient.
We can help with:
- Coordinating pick–ups
- Product tracking and reporting
- Ensuring donations are handled safely and responsibly
If you’re a retailer, manufacturer, or wholesaler interested in joining us, we’d love to discuss how we can collaborate to get good food where it’s needed most.
Culturally Responsive Food Project
At the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, we believe food is more than nourishment – it’s connection. The Culturally Responsive Food Project was created to recognize that access to food also means honoring the cultural traditions and food preferences that make our communities vibrant and diverse.
Through this initiative, we work to ensure the food we provide reflects the cultures, tastes, and traditions of the neighbors we serve. By doing so, we promote dignity, build trust, and create a more inclusive and equitable emergency food system.
How You Can Support This Effort
You can support the Culturally Responsive Food Project by donating culturally preferred food items or partnering with us as a retailer, wholesaler, or community organization.
Examples of culturally preferred foods may include:
- Grains: Rice varieties, masa harina, lentils, couscous, or noodles.
- Proteins: Canned beans, tofu, halal or kosher meats, fish, and legumes.
- Spices & Seasonings: Chili powder, cumin, soy sauce, curry powder, adobo, or tamari.
- Staples & Condiments: Tortillas, coconut milk, plantains, or traditional sauces and broths.
By donating culturally responsive foods, you help ensure that every neighbor feels seen, respected, and welcomed.
Food Donation Guidelines
To ensure the safety and quality of food distributed to our neighbors, all donations must meet basic food safety standards. Our team is always happy to answer questions and help determine whether your donation is a good fit.
What We Accept
We welcome donations of food and essential items that are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled, including:
- Shelf-Stable Foods: Canned fruits and vegetables, soups, pasta, rice, beans, peanut butter, cereal, and other non-perishable items.
- Fresh Produce: Fruits and vegetables from farms, orchards, or home gardens
- Refrigerated and Frozen Foods: Meats, dairy, baked goods, and other perishable products (must be properly stored and within code dates).
- Beverages: Juice, shelf-stable milk, bottled water, and nutritional drinks.
- Personal Care and Household Items: Soap, toothpaste, diapers, cleaning products, and other essential non-food items.
- Bulk and Surplus Products: Items from retailers, distributors, or manufacturers that are safe for consumption but cannot be sold due to overproduction, labeling errors, or approaching code dates.
What We Cannot Accept
For the safety of our neighbors, we are unable to accept:
- Opened or partially used items
- Homemade or home-canned foods (with the exception of fresh produce)
- Items without ingredient or nutrition labels
- Food past its “Use By” or “Expiration” date
- Prepared food
- Alcoholic beverages or medicines
