Food Pantries

Supporting food security in our community is a big part of Zumbro's mission. One way we do this is by housing and supporting two food pantries on the church grounds. Zumbro supports an outdoor mini pantry for the public and an indoor pantry used to house surplus to keep the mini pantry stocked, as well as be available to our mission and ministry partners. The outdoor mini pantry is located on the SW corner the building. It is a take what you need, leave what you can free gift of food to our neighbors. Folks are invited to donate shelf-stable food items and even personal care items for both pantries by placing them in the grocery cart located inside the church's main entrance.

We are looking for volunteers who would be interested in serving guests for the indoor pantry during open hours (see below), keeping it organized, and helping folks choose items. Additionally, we need volunteers to stock, organize, and fill the public outdoor mini pantry any day of the week. We also need people interested in being on an email list for when supplies run low. Sign up below to help in any of these areas and we will be in touch!

Note: the public outdoor mini pantry is open 24 hours a day and is stocked daily by volunteers.

 

 

Food Donations

Both the public outdoor mini pantry and the indoor food pantry rely on shelf-stable food donations. Pull tab canned goods are preferred. Please place donated items in the grocery cart inside the main entrance of the church. 

Popular Food Items to Donate:
  • canned meats, protein
  • soup
  • ramen noodles 
  • instant mashed potatoes
  • instant rice
  • oatmeal
  • cereal
  • pasta
  • canned fruit
  • peanut butter

Indoor Food Pantry

The indoor Zumbro Food Pantry is used to house all pantry food donations, including surplus for the outdoor mini pantry, but is also open to our mission partners and staffed by volunteers during these hours:

 

Wednesdays 12pm – 1pm: Luther College Students

Thursdays 3:30pm – 5:30pm:  LSS Youth Resource Center & Open Table Guests

 

5 item limit per guest

How You Can Help

  1. Donate shelf-stable food for both the outdoor mini pantry and the indoor pantry by placing items in the grocery cart in the lobby at the church's main entrance.
  2. Volunteer to help with the Zumbro pantries—indoor and outdoor—or be on an email list for when supplies get low by registering below, or by emailing Director of Mission Sarah Lichty at sarahlichty@zumbrolutheran.org