Food Industry Donations

Turn Surplus Food Into Meals for Our Neighbors

Food manufacturers, growers, distributors, retailers and other food businesses play an essential role in helping the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank provide nutritious food across our region. If your organization has surplus, close-dated or otherwise marketable food available, we can help put it to good use.

Schedule a Food Donation →

What We Accept

Food That Can Still Make a Difference

Surplus food does not have to go to waste. We can accept a wide range of retail-packaged, shelf-stable, refrigerated and frozen products from food industry partners, as well as fresh produce, provided items meet our food safety and labeling requirements.

Potential donations include:

  • Overstock and surplus product
  • Discontinued items
  • Off spec items
  • Close-dated items
  • Products up to 60 days past the sell-by or use-by date, with some exceptions
  • Items with minor dents or cosmetic package damage
  • Fresh produce
  • Select non-food items

Donation Requirements

Before you Donate

To help us safely accept and distribute donated product, please make sure:

  • Items are properly labeled with ingredients and a visible date code.
  • Products with an incorrect printed date code are accompanied by documentation confirming the correct date.
  • Packaging is unopened and free from rust, leaks, pest exposure or damage that could make the product unsafe.
  • Baby food and infant formula are within their expiration date.

Items we Cannot Accept

Some Products Are Not Eligible for Donation

For safety and distribution reasons, we cannot accept:

  • Opened, leaking, rusted or pest-damaged products
  • Products that are unsafe for human consumption
  • Baby food or infant formula past the expiration date
  • Pet food or other pet products
  • CBD or hemp products
  • Alcoholic beverages or alcohol-containing drink products
  • Kombucha
  • Chemicals

Built For Large-Scael Donations

We Make Food Donation Easier

Whether you have a few pallets of surplus product or an ongoing stream of donated food, our team can work with you to coordinate the details. With Healthy Food Hubs serving central Pennsylvania and an established food distribution network, we can move donated food efficiently from your operation to communities throughout our service area.

Flexible Donations

We work with manufacturers, distributors, retailers, farmers and other food businesses on one-time and recurring donations of eligible food and select non-food products.

Pickup Coordination

Depending on the donation, our team can help coordinate transportation and logistics.

Donation Documentation

We can provide documentation acknowledging donated product for your organization’s records.

Get Started

Schedule a Food Donation

Contact our Food Sourcing team before delivering product so we can confirm that we are able to accept your donation and coordinate the appropriate next steps.

When You Contact Us, Please Have:

Company Name

Request for delivery or pick up

Pick Up Address, any reference number if necessary, and hours of operation for Pickup

Type and Amount of Product

Frozen, dry/shelf stable, perishable, or refrigerated products.
Case count, pallet count, weight, etc.

Photo of product

Reason for donation

(close-dated, off spec, overstock, etc.)

Contact name, number, and email to arrange the pick-up

Donor name and address to be utilized on the receipt (this will be emailed)

GET STARTED

Schedule a Food Donation

All food donations requiring delivery to or pickup by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank must be scheduled in advance. Pickup requests should involve substantial quantities of eligible product, as we are generally unable to dispatch a truck for small donations or only a few cases.

Please email our Food Sourcing team at donatefood@centralpafoodbank.org so we can review the donation, confirm eligibility and coordinate the appropriate next steps.

Receiving hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Sidney Schoch
Food Sourcing Manager
sschoch@centralpafoodbank.org

Donation Locations

Our Healthy Food Hubs

Industry donations may be accepted at our Healthy Food Hubs by appointment. All deliveries must be scheduled in advance with our Food Sourcing team and occur during receiving hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Harrisburg Healthy Food Hub
3908 Corey Road
Harrisburg, PA 17109

Get Directions →

Williamsport Healthy Food Hub
3301 Wahoo Drive
Williamsport, PA 17701

Get Directions →

Hollidaysburg Healthy Food Hub
811 Scotch Valley Rd
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648

Get Directions →