A group of people in red aprons posing for a picture.
A shopping cart full of food and other items.

Giving Food

The Allentown Food Bank warmly welcomes food donations from individuals, grocers, restaurant owners, and wholesalers. All food donations can be delivered to the food bank from 8:30-11:45 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday or 10:45-11:45 a.m. Wednesday. Considerations when selecting foods to donate:

  • Consider people with health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. Select some low-salt and low-sugar items
  • Pop-top cans are ideal especially for the elderly, children, homeless people, and other populations.

Most Needed Foods

  • Canned fruits, packed in natural juices preferred
  • Fruit cups
  • Shelf-stable individual microwavable meals such as Dinty Moore Stew or Mac ‘n Cheese cups, or Hormel Completes
  • Packages of precooked rice, grains, or pasta
  • Boxes of crackers
  • Jelly
  • Flour
  • Sugar
  • Vegetable oil
  • Low-sugar cereal such as cheerios, bran flakes, etc
  • Oatmeal
  • Condiments such as salad dressing, ketchup, mustard
  • Hearty soups
  • Mac 'n Cheese boxes
  • Toothpaste
  • Bars of soap

Foods NOT Accepted

  • Home cooked, processed, or baked foods
  • Foods in open containers
  • Foods with best buy date greater than 6 months

Gardeners

Share your bumper crops with the food bank! Or sow extra plants to donate their fruits or vegetables to the food bank.

Four people holding boxes in front of a van.

Plan a Food Drive

We greatly appreciate food drives and work with individuals, churches, companies, and other groups interested in organizing them. For assistance, please call us during business hours at 610-433-6373.

Join Us As a Volunteer

The Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank offers opportunities to fight hunger through volunteering.

Everyone—individuals, groups, and businesses—can contribute time, resources, or services. Volunteers aged 13 and older can help, with those 13–17 needing an adult present.

Responsibilities include assisting clients with shopping or carrying groceries to the front of the building. Additionally, jobs like packing products into bins or bags are available. Shifts are weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Most volunteers serve 1 to 2 times per month.

Join us to make a difference in the community!

Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank

Become a Volunteer

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Volunteer FAQ’s

Yes!  Everyone will receive training prior to their selected volunteer shift.

You should arrive 30 minutes prior to your selected shift.

Parking is available in the lot directly across the street from the food bank.  Please ignore the No Parking signs and park within the white painted spaces.

Volunteers who are shopping with clients in the pantry will be standing and moving for the duration of about 3 hours. For other volunteer opportunities that do not require standing, please reach out to Amy Hitch, Volunteer Coordinator at (610) 821-1332.

Please use the form, or you have specific questions or would like to register a group, please email the Volunteer Coordinator ([email protected]) or call (610) 821-1332.

Yes, we can provide a standard form to verify hours or sign documentation that you bring in.

Volunteers should wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothing.