Donate Food

When you or your organization make a food donation, you bring hope to a family’s table and benefit your community.

Food for the mind and body

The Capital Area Food Bank relies on support from retailers, community groups, and people like you to help us get food onto the plates of those who need it. The most efficient way to do that is through a monetary donation, though we gladly accept food donations as well. By providing foods that are high fiber, low sugar, and low in sodium, you’ll enable children and families to have the kinds of nutritious meals they need to maintain health.

Items We Need

How to donate food

Individual Donations

If you or your family would like to donate food, there are multiple ways you can make a difference.

Food Industry Donations

We regularly accept food donations from grocery stores, wholesalers, restaurants, and others in the food industry. If this sounds like an organization that you own or represent, we’d welcome your help.

Learn More

Business Donations

You don’t have to be a part of the food industry to help the community. There are still plenty of ways you can provide hunger relief.

Drop-off Food Donations

We accept donations of unopened, non-perishable food from individual donors. Drop off your donation at either our DC or northern Virginia warehouses.

DC Distribution Center

4900 Puerto Rico Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20017

(202) 644-9800, ext. 5

Hours:

Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
(Please follow the food donation signs to make your drop-off.)

Monday–Friday: Leave your non-perishable food in the metal collection bins in the front of the building.

NOVA Distribution Center

6833 Hill Park Drive
Lorton, VA 22079

Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
(Please go directly to the loading dock to make your drop-off.)

Frequently asked questions

Register online
Receive instructions and food drive kit via email
Review our Most Wanted Foods List
Start collecting donations

Host a drive

Please look over our Most Wanted List. We prioritize non-perishable items that are low sugar, low sodium and high fiber (whole-grain pasta, brown rice, 100% juices, low-sodium canned veggies, etc.).

If you are unable to collect and deliver food donations, you can order items from our Amazon wishlist. Anything you purchase will be shipped to us directly.

View our Amazon wishlist

Absolutely! Every dollar you give will provide two meals to people in need.

Make a donation

We are so grateful that you’ve hosted a food drive for us. Our truck fleet is fully dedicated to delivering food to our neighbors in need, so we don’t have the ability to pick up food drive collections. We invite you to drop off food at either our DC or Northern Virginia facilities as noted in the info above.