Donation Guidelines
Everything you need to know about making food and item donations
Thank You for Your Generosity!
Your donations make it possible for us to serve families in need throughout our community. To ensure we can distribute safe, quality items, please follow these guidelines.
✅ What We Accept
- Non-perishable food items — canned goods, dry goods, pasta, rice, cereal, etc.
- Unexpired items — please check "best by" or expiration dates before donating
- Unopened, undamaged packages — items in their original, sealed packaging
- Personal care items — soap, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, diapers
- Household supplies — toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products
- Fresh produce (by arrangement) — contact us first for large donations
- Frozen items (by arrangement) — we have limited freezer space, so please call ahead
❌ What We Cannot Accept
- Expired food — we cannot distribute food past its expiration date
- Opened or partially used items — for safety, all food must be sealed
- Damaged packages — dented, rusted, or torn packaging
- Homemade or home-canned foods — we can only accept commercially packaged items
- Items without labels — we need to verify contents and dates
- Alcoholic beverages
- Recalled products
- Perishables without prior arrangement — please call before bringing fresh/frozen items
Pro Tip: When shopping for donations, think about what you'd want to receive if you were in need. Quality, nutritious items make a real difference in families' lives!
Where & When to Donate
📍 Drop-Off Location
Huron Helping Hands Food Pantry
820 Cleveland Rd E
Huron, OH 44839
🕐 Drop-Off Hours
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
For after-hours or large donations, please call to make arrangements.
Special Donation Situations
🚚 Large Donations
Planning to donate a large quantity of items? Please call us at 419-616-0088 to arrange a time. This helps us ensure we have volunteers available to receive and process your donation.
🥬 Fresh Produce & Perishables
We gratefully accept fresh produce and other perishables, but please contact us first. We need to coordinate timing to ensure items can be distributed quickly to families.
🏪 Business & Retail Donations
Local businesses interested in donating surplus inventory or making regular donations are welcome! Contact us to set up a partnership arrangement.
🎯 Food Drives
Organizing a food drive for your school, church, business, or organization? We'd love to help! Contact us for collection boxes, promotional materials, and coordination.
Checking Expiration Dates
Before donating, please check all items for expiration or "best by" dates. Here's what to look for:
"Best By" or "Best Before" — indicates peak quality; items are often still safe shortly after this date
"Use By" — the last date recommended for use at peak quality
"Sell By" — for store inventory management; items are typically good for days or weeks after
When in doubt: If an item is past any of these dates, it's best not to donate it.
Questions About Donating?
Not sure if we can use something? Just give us a call — we're happy to help!