Support The Food Bank
Your Gift Makes a Difference
The majority of our organization’s overall funding is made possible by our incredible community of donors. This support makes it possible for The Food Bank to share food and bring hope to around 100,000 neighbors each month. When you donate, you can:
- Choose to give to general operations; we'll use these funds where they're needed most.
- Make a gift to a specific program.
- Designate that your gift stays in your county.
- Make a gift in honor or memory of a loved one.
- Celebrate a milestone/special occasion with a donation.
Make a Planned Gift
Planned gifts are a great way to leave a legacy of hope. Options include:
- Bequests: Name The Food Bank in your will or living trust.
- Life insurance: Make The Food Bank the beneficiary of your policy.
- Retirement account: Designate The Food Bank as the beneficiary of your IRA.
Gifts of stock: Donate a portion of your securities to The Food Bank.
Drop Off Food
Donating food allows us to quickly get it to those in need. You have a lot of ways to make food donations:
- Food drives: We host several special events each year that include food and fund drives. Learn more about food drives on our events web page.
- Grocery stores: Purchase and drop off nonperishable items in The Food Bank bins at Gerbes, Hy-Vee or Schnucks locations in Columbia.
- The Food Bank: Get directions for dropping off food on our Contact Us page.
- A pantry near you: Call a pantry or other partner agency near you directly to find out how you can donate to them.
- From your garden: If you have extra food from your home garden that you’d like to donate, please learn how to donate on our Garden Giving page.
When donating beef, it must be inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Just look for the USDA mark of inspection on the packaging. Similarly, if you choose to donate venison, it must be donated through an approved processor.
Mail a Check
You can make a monetary donation via check and mail it directly to The Food Bank, if that is convenient for you. Please make checks payable to The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri.
Donate Online
Giving online allows you to make your gift any time and from anywhere quickly and easily. And, you can still designate a program or county for your funds, if that’s your preference.
Make a Planned Gift
Planned gifts are a meaningful way to leave a legacy of hope. The Food Bank offers many planned giving options through our Heirloom Society, including bequests, life insurance, gifts of stock and more.
Attend an Event or Drive
Attending a special event or drive is a great way to support our mission financially, learn more about The Food Bank and connect with others in our community - well and have fun!
Sponsor an Event
Corporate groups, organizations and even individuals can support their community by supporting one of The Food Bank’s events or drives. Options include sponsorship, matching gifts, group volunteering and more.
Volunteer Your Time
Monetary and food donations are critical to supporting neighbors facing hunger, but so is the time volunteers give to our mission.
Garden Giving
If you grow extra produce in your at-home garden, consider donating it! By giving your time and skill to growing food for neighbors, your cherished hobby can contribute to a healthier, more hopeful community.
Host a Drive
Whether you host an in-person drive to collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations or a virtual drive to raise funds, you can make a difference for families facing food insecurity.