12 Michigan food pantries to donate your time, money, & food to this holiday season
1 in 7 children in Michigan is food insecure, but you can help feed families by supporting local food pantries and aid organizations.
‘Tis the season of giving, and this year, with a government shutdown threatening some people’s access to food, donating your time and resources to local Michigan food pantries may be more important than ever.
Many local charities and food kitchens get overwhelmed with volunteers this time of year, so here’s our gentle reminder that it’s always best to call and ask what they need help with the most. You don’t have to physically volunteer to make an impact—many food pantries desperately need donations more than people to pass out soup and bread. And don’t forget that many food pantries are also in dire need of other non-perishable supplies, like household items (think soap, shampoo, or bottled water) and feminine hygiene supplies.
Again, always ask or check the pantry’s website for their current list of needs. Pantries can get overwhelmed this time of year, so if you’re trying to help, your job is to make their job as easy as possible.
1. Open Hands Food Pantry & Garden
Location: St. John’s Episcopal Church, 26998 Woodward Avenue at 11 Mile, Royal Oak, MI 48067
The Open Hands Food Pantry & Garden is a unique food pantry in Michigan because it operates as a drive-through only. However, the pantry is still open to those without a vehicle in a walk-up manner.
The pantry has a full volunteer information page with current open shifts and needs. Volunteers 14 years old and up can work in roles such as the bread station assistant, a bag carrier, a walk-up assistant, or a greeter.
During the summer, volunteers can also plant, cultivate, harvest, and take fresh produce in the Open Hands Garden. Can’t make it in person? Send a PayPal through their page, or cash donations, to help purchase food from Gleaners Good Bank for cents on the dollar. No large food drives or donations are accepted.
2. St Christine’s Outreach Food Pantry
Location: 22303 Fenkell Ave, Detroit, MI 48223
St. Christine’s Outreach Food Pantry in Detroit, Mich., serves a vast number of people in the community. In 2024 alone, the pantry served 7,593 households, including 6,413 children. Volunteers are welcome in all areas of community life, including cooking community meals or unloading donations. You can bring food items to the pantry on Mondays or call 313-995-8673 for alternate drop-off needs.
Ongoing food items that are always in need include bread, vegetables, fruit, meat, eggs, milk, and juice. Other ways to help include contacting the pantry to volunteer via email at stchristinedetroit@gmail.com or calling 313-543-1527. You can donate directly through their website or by mailing a check to the pantry.
3. Family Impact Center
Location: 9430 West Grand River Avenue, Fowlerville, Michigan, 48836
The Family Impact Center in Fowlerville, Mich., is actively seeking holiday items such as pancake mix and syrup, soups, seasonings, canned fruit, green beans, canned gravy and corn, instant potatoes, mini marshmallows, and brown sugar. However, any size donation is gratefully accepted. The pantry is also always looking for cereal, condiments, soup, crackers, spaghetti sauce, and ramen noodles.
If you’re looking to give hands-on help, the pantry also welcomes volunteers in a variety of roles. You can email Pantry@Familyimpactcenters.com to find out more about how your talents can be used.
4. Elk Rapids Community Cupboard Food Pantry
Location: First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids, 404 Spruce St, Elk Rapids, MI 49629
The Elk Rapids Community Cupboard Food Pantry makes donating easy—food items can be placed in the large brown box located just outside the cupboard entrance on the corner of Chippewa and Spruce Streets.
Some of the most needed items include peanut butter, salad dressing, baked beans, and tuna fish. They also need non-food items of toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, and deodorant, and the pantry accepts online donations as well.
5. Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry
Location: 25670 Northline Rd, Taylor, MI 48180
As of November 5, 2025, the Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry is reporting a 300% increase in requests for help, which means they are in need of direct donations and hands-on help. There are many in-person opportunities for volunteering that include everything from unloading food in the warehouse to the office. It’s best to email the pantry manager at bcooper@flcfp.org to get started as a volunteer.
You can also donate online (the pantry will purchase food for a discounted rate available to food pantries, so it’s more bang for the buck, too!) or make a check out to “Fish & Loaves” and send it to the address listed above.
6. The Refuge
Location: 1009 N. Saginaw St, Lapeer, MI 48446
The Refuge is a homeless shelter in Lapeer County that operates primarily from November to April and serves as a warm place to sleep with showers, laundry, food, and job search assistance, as well as a day shelter during the summer. I have personally volunteered in-person at The Refuge and can attest to the important work they are doing for the unhoused and in need in and around Lapeer County.
There are near-endless ways to help support The Refuge, from physical donations to offering monetary support to signing up for shifts or as a driver. Check the website for the full menu of ways to help.
7. Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
Various locations
You can think of the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan as a “catch-all” for helping connect people in need in the Eastern Michigan area. The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan works with 600 hunger relief partners in 22 counties.
You can check the website to connect with a food pantry in your area, where you can donate, volunteer, join a local fundraising event, or give online. Call Brooke, the volunteer coordinator at 810-869-6987 or email her at bsummers@fbem.us.
8. Feeding America West Michigan
Various locations
Serving the west side of the state is Feeding America West Michigan, which operates similarly to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, connecting various food pantries and relief centers across West Michigan. The organization has unique volunteer opportunities such as writing thank-you letters, packing goodie bags, or doing clerical work. They will try to match your skills and interests with a service that’s a good fit for you.
The organization can also connect you to a mobile food pantry location where you can work hands-on with unpacking and distributing food. Check the website for a full list of volunteer opportunities and to sign up for the volunteer database.
9. Food Gatherers
Location: 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
The Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor, Mich., accepts non-perishable and perishable food donations to their warehouse Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm. The donations are contactless, so you can simply pull up to the donation area and call the warehouse at 734-761-2796 to let someone know you’ve arrived to come and take the food from your car.
Some of the most-needed items include diapers and wipes, hearty soups, formula, soap, shampoo, whole grain cereal and packaged pastas, and kid-friendly packaged snacks.
10. Food Bank Council of Michigan
Various locations
As another “catch-all” food and aid distributor in Michigan, the Food Bank Council of Michigan helps the over 1.1 million Michiganders who are food insecure. They do have a list of partnering food pantries on their website if you want to reach out individually for volunteer opportunities, but the easiest way to support the organization’s mission is through donating online.
11. Community Food Pantry of Charlevoix
Location: 100 W. Hurlbut Street, Charlevoix, MI 49720
As a Northern Michigan food pantry option, the Community Food Pantry of Charlevoix accepts food donations at the address above—just add your donations to the box outside.
The food pantry welcomes food items such as canned soups, vegetables, fruit, oatmeal, cereal, canned meat like Spam or tuna fish, packaged foods, peanut butter, and jelly.
12. SOS Community Services
Location: SOS Resource Center at 114 North River, Ypsilanti, MI 48198
You can drop food items and non-perishables like soap, lotion, and shampoo directly at the SOS Resource Center. You can check the website for full wish lists, but the pantry also has an Amazon Wish List, Walmart Wish List, Diaper Drive Wish List, and Family Resource Center Wish List, which you can shop and choose to ship needed items. The pantry also accepts certain household items like pots and pans, new sheets and blankets, and cribs and high chairs.
Another great idea if you’re looking to donate to any food pantries in Michigan is to put together “celebration kits.” Add cake mix (preferably the kind that doesn’t require eggs), an aluminum pan, frosting, and candles to a bag so a child in need can have a cake for their birthday.
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