Donate

Your Gift Multiplies Hope

Your contribution to the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry & Clothes Closet helps us provide dignity, care, and vital support to families right here in Batavia. Every gift strengthens the foundation of compassion that allows us to walk alongside our neighbors during times of need.

While donations of non-perishable food and clothing remain vital, monetary gifts give us the flexibility to purchase items that are not often donated but are always in demand, including milk, eggs, cereal, soap, toilet paper, diapers, and laundry detergent. These everyday essentials make a profound difference in the lives of the more than 1,200 families we serve each month.

Through our cooperative buying power with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, we can stretch every $1 gift into $8 worth of food—multiplying your impact and ensuring your generosity goes even further.

In addition to online donations, we also accept monetary donations via cash or check.

Cash
We accept cash in person during our hours of operation or during one of our food drives.

Check
Please make your check payable to the Batavia Food Pantry and mail or deliver it to: 916 First St., Batavia, IL 60510

Together, we can continue building a community where no one is left behind.

Food Donations: Most Needed Items

• Shampoo

• Conditioner

• Deodorant

• Toothpaste

• Syrup

• Kidney Beans

• Garbanzo Beans

• Spaghetti Sauce

• Ready to Eat Soup (any kind)

• Condensed Cream of
Mushroom Soup

• Condensed Tomato Soup

• Chicken Noodle Soup

• Canned Tuna

• Canned Chicken

• Canned Carrots

• Canned Corn

• Canned Mandarin Oranges

• Canned Pineapple

• Ground Coffee

• Tea

• Boxed Potatoes (Mashed, AuGratin, Scalloped, etc.)

• Canned Chili

• Canned Corned Beef Hash

• Strawberry Jelly

• Crackers (any kind)

• Apple Juice

• Boxed Pasta

• Paper Towels

• Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags

• Gallon Size Ziploc Bags

• Diapers Size 4, 5, or 6

• Baby Wipes

• Disposable Razors (women’s and men’s)

• Tissues

Items We Always Need

• Cake Mix

• Salad Dressing (any kind)

• Tomato Paste

• Chicken Ramen Noodles

• Paper Napkins

• Brownie Mix

• Dried Beans (any kind)

• Refried Beans

• Beef Ramen Noodles

• Boxed Cereal (any kind)

The Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Clothes Closet can always use cereal donations

Another Way to Donate… Host a Food Drive

Hosting a food drive is a powerful way to support our neighbors in need. If your business, school, church, or community group would like to organize one, we’d love to help you get started. Please click here to get in touch with us for more information on hosting a food drive.

Clothing Donations

The Clothes Closet accepts in-season clothing (for example, light jackets in the spring, bathing suits and shorts in the summer, winter coats and heavy sweaters as winter approaches). If it’s something you or a family member would wear within the next month, now would be a great time to drop it off! Please be sure items are clean and in good condition (no holes, stains, missing parts).

In addition to clothing, we also accept shoes, small housewares (nothing bigger than a crock pot or coffee maker), dishes, bedding, towels, blankets, and decor. Our clients also enjoy games, puzzles, purses, and small toys.

Clothing donations at the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Clothes Closet

Donation FAQs

I heard you moved. Where are you located?

Our new address is 916 First Street, Batavia, IL, 60510

What are your donation hours? Can I leave items outside of those times?

Donation are only accepted at the rear of the building at 916 First Street during these times:
• Tuesday: 8am-3pm
• Wednesday: 8am-noon & 6:00-7:30pm
• Thursdays 8am-noon & 6:00-7:30pm
• Fridays: 8am-noon

These are the days and times when volunteers are available to accept both food and clothing donations. Please do not drop off donations outside of these hours, and please do not leave anything sitting outside the building.

Do you accept clothing in any condition?

We strive only to distribute clothing in excellent condition. Our team of volunteers sorts through every item donated. Items that are stained or have holes or other damage will be passed on to Anderson Animal Shelter or go to fabric recycling.

You can help us by only donating items in good condition!

Can you accept expired food?

Per our agreement with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, shelf-stable food on our shelves must be within 6 months of the “best by” date stamped on the can. If your food products are older than 6 months past that date, we cannot accept them.

Can you accept frozen food?

Per our agreement with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, we cannot accept frozen food donations from the community.

For the safety of our visitors, we can only accept frozen foods from our grocery store partners who follow strict guidelines for these donations.

Do you accept garden produce?

Yes! Fresh garden produce is always welcome! If you can plant an extra row in your garden to donate to the food pantry, we would be very grateful. These are the freshest and healthiest items we can offer to the families who visit us.

Favorite items include: Tomatoes, herbs such as cilantro or basil, zucchini, cucumbers, and peppers (both sweet and hot).

Can you accept open food?

We cannot accept any food that is open or not in its original packaging. Pet food is the only exception to this rule; we can accept open bags of pet food.

Do you accept pet food?

Yes! Pets are family, too. We are always happy when we can provide pet food for the families who visit us.

Do you accept alcohol, medicine, or vitamins?

We do not accept donations of alcohol. We can accept medicine and vitamins if they are in their original, unopened packaging, before the expiration date printed on the packaging.

Can I make a donation in honor or in memory of someone?

Yes! Donations made in honor or in memory of a loved one are welcome. Thank-you letters will be generated for both you and the family of the honoree. Please be sure to include an address for the family so we can appropriately acknowledge your kindness.

Do you take any type of clothing?

Clothing for all ages and sizes is welcome. We always need clothing in teen sizes and Men’s small.

Do you accept furniture or small household items? What about kitchen items?

We can accept small household items, such as kitchen appliances (toasters, coffee makers, crockpots, and other similar-sized items).

We do not accept furniture. If you have furniture to donate, reach out to the St. Vincent de Paul Society or Furnish Forward. Both of these organizations take gently used furniture to help families in need.

Do you take electronics? Garden tools? Books?

We can accept small electronics and garden tools. We also accept gently used books as we have a small library for families.

Do you need hangers?

We do not need “regular” hangers, but can accept “pants” hangers.

Do you accept stuffed animals? Pillows?

We can accept very gently used stuffed animals and pillows. If your items are more well-loved, please consider donating them to Anderson Animal Shelter.