Food Donations
Acord gladly accepts donations of food items that have not reached their expiration or “best by” date. Donations can be dropped at our collection boxes at:
Acord Food Pantry, 69 Willow Street, Hamilton - Wednesdays from 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Hamilton Wenham Public Library, 14 Union Street, Hamilton (during open hours)
Hamilton Public Safety Building, 265 Bay Road, Hamilton
If you have a larger donation, please contact us to schedule a drop off appointment
Acord distributes food, toiletries, and household paper and cleaning products. Please check the expiration date on every food item. We cannot accept donations of expired food or any medicine or vitamins.
Most Needed Items
The products below are always in high demand at the pantry:
Breakfast items: Almond or Oat milk, jam/jelly, cereal (hot & cold)
Canned goods: Chili, baked beans, hearty soup, canned meats, beef stew, Chef Boyardee, chicken broth/stock
Dry goods: Coffee, tea, cocoa, baking mixes, couscous, quinoa, and other grains
Snack items: Granola bars, cookies, peanut butter crackers, other crackers
Condiments: Mayonnaise, salad dressing, mustard, ketchup, and other condiments
Personal care items: Soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Poise pads
Fresh Produce Donations
Acord is able to accept donations of fresh produce from your garden or the grocery store. Just be sure to contact us for drop off options to insure produce is distributed while it is still fresh.
Food Drive Information
Food drives are a great way to help Acord. They help to stock our shelves and provide much appreciated variety for our clients.
Anytime of year is a great time for a food drive but please consider hosting a drive during our slower months of February through April or June through September.
If you are interested in organizing a food drive, please contact us at acord.director@gmail.com or 978-468-7424.
Tips/Guidelines for a Successful Food Drive
Promote your drive at least a week in advance to give people time to shop.
Hand out a shopping list of most needed items (listed above). Consider a theme, such as breakfast items, “meals in a can,” a holiday, or foods for kids’ lunchboxes.
Acord is not able to accept food items that are opened or past their expiration date.
For workplace drives, ask the company to offer a matching gift. Encourage competition. Recognize the group that brings in the most food.
Let people know they can make a financial donation to Acord if they prefer.
Decorate and label collection boxes.
Please check the expiration date on each item that you receive. (Don’t bring expired products to Acord; please throw out or compost them yourself.)
Deliver the food to Acord at a previously-arranged time.
Thank donors afterward, in whatever way you recruited them. Post thanks on Facebook and Twitter; e-mail friends and colleagues; replace your promotional poster with a thank-you poster. Consider sharing a photo of all the food you collected, or info about how much was donated.
