Host a Food Drive
You can get started right away! Run a food drive at your work, school, church, and beyond.
Rally your friends and neighbors! Just fill out our donation drive form, grab a cardboard box and start asking folks to donate items.
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Our wish lists below are a great guideline for giving year-round.
Here’s what we need the most right now: Pantry Staples Wish List
Planning a holiday food drive? Help bring holiday cheer to our shelves with donations of special seasonal items!
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Read our nutrition guidelines here.
Please note: we are not able to accept clothing items beyond socks, hats, and gloves. Please donate clothing to another organization such as Aurora Commons, Queen Anne Helpline, or Mary’s Place.
Yes
Non-perishable, unopened cans and packages of food
Fresh produce from your p-patch or garden, including vegetable starts (see note)
Open or unopened packages of cat and dog food
Open or unopened hygiene items like shampoo and lotion
Reusable brown paper bags with handles, heavy plastic bags
No
Perishable items and prepared food
Clothing (beyond socks, gloves, hats)
Items that are expired
Open containers of food
Homemade items (such as jams and jellies, baked goods)
Anything that requires distribution under the care of a physician
Empty, small medicine or vitamin bottles
Light plastic grocery bags
Cold or ice packs
Notes: Items from home gardens are welcome. We ask that you process and portion it in smaller bags. At this time we don’t have capacity to process items in bulk.
We welcome donations of new gloves, hats, and handwarmers when the weather is cold. Please donate other clothing items and anything in large quantities to other organizations.
Thank you!
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Planning a holiday food drive? Help bring holiday cheer to our shelves with donations of special seasonal items!
Holiday Food Drive Poster (11 × 17)
Holiday Food Drive Wish List Handout (4-up)
Looking for a special theme like pet essentials or items for kids? Check out our wish list flyers by theme: Wish Lists by Category
Materials for year-round giving:
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Through October 2026, drop off donations at our back warehouse door, accessed through our parking lot off 49th and 14th. Please indicate when you’d like to drop off your donations on the registration form or reach out to LenaH@ballardfoodbank.org to coordinate a time within our service hours listed here.
Check in with a warehouse team member when you arrive, and they will assist you!
Beginning in November 2026, please sign up here to schedule a time slot to drop off at our new Ballard Food Bank Annex parking lot at 4810 15th Ave NW - just west of the food bank.
Please do not drop off donations when we are closed. Thank you for understanding.
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Questions? Contact CommunityEvents@ballardfoodbank.org.
Online Food Drives
Looking to rally friends and family from a distance? Want to have someone else do all the heavy lifting? An online food drive might be the option you’re looking for!