Donate Food & Essentials

How to Donate

We are open and available to accept donations on Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. If you have any questions, please email us at donations@rvfb.org. Thank you for joining us in ending hunger in South Seattle!

 In 2025…

1.5 million

pounds of food distributed through our food bank.

662,968 pounds

of food were donated to our food bank.

Donating food & essential items

From food donations to gift cards and much more, we’re grateful for your gift.

Making a Donation of food or items

Your donation helps keep our shelves stocked for our neighbors — thank you! Before donating, please review our current needs, donation guidelines, and drop-off instructions so we can put your donations to good use.

  • We accept donations Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

  • Drop off your donations with a team member in our warehouse, accessible off 50th Ave S.

Hosting a Food, Fund, or Essentials Drive

Our Food, Fund & Essentials Drive Kit gives you the tools and information to make your drive a success!

  • Choose what type of drive you’d like to host: food, funds, or items

  • Email us to register the dates for your drive.

  • Receive ready-to-use materials.

Donating Farm and Garden bounties

We gladly accept small and large amounts of produce from home gardens, p-patches, or farms. Please keep the following in mind when donating produce:

  • Donate produce in containers that the food bank can keep. We can also arrange to use our crates so you can harvest and distribute produce from the same receptacle.

  • No mushy, molding, or close-to-over-ripe produce.


Current donation needs

We accept donations of both fresh and shelf-stable goods, as well as non-food personal care items! All items must be in unopened containers. Some of the most requested items at our food bank include:

Food Donations

  • Seasonings

  • Cooking oil

  • Fish sauce

  • Soy sauce

  • Gluten-free foods

  • Bread or flour

  • Dry goods (rice & pasta)

  • Frozen produce

  • Infant formula and baby food

  • Canned chicken, SPAM & tuna

  • Soy, rice, or almond milk

essentials Donations

  • Paper grocery bags

  • Dog & cat food

  • Diapers

  • Hygiene items including:

    • Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss

    • Shaving supplies

    • Period products

    • Disposable adult underwear

    • Deodorant

    • Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and soap

    • Lotion and lip balm

    • Wet wipes