The West Side Food Pantry located in our community center is available to anyone who needs groceries to feed themselves or their families. We recognize the fact that the Palouse has high poverty and food insecurity rates, and that not everyone has enough money for groceries, so we are here to help.
The Pantry hours are dependent on volunteer schedules, which are updated weekly and can be found below. Hours are subject to change and the most up-to-date information can be found on the Pantry's Facebook page. |
Visiting Guide
- Each household can visit once per week, with the week resetting on Sunday.
- Please try to only send one adult from your household - we are limited on space and get overcrowded very easily.
- If you come in once, that is considered your household’s visit for the week, even if you do not take anything with you. This includes just being the driver for a friend.
- No proof of identification, residence, or income is required. The only information we need from you is how many adults, children, and seniors are in your household. If this is your first time visiting, please mention that to the attendant.
- No animals are allowed in the Pantry except for service animals that are specifically trained to aid a disabled person as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Please do not eat or drink in the Pantry.
- No weapons of any kind are allowed in the West Side Food Pantry.
- Bring your own bag, box, basket, etc. We may have some bags available, but we will not be regularly providing them.
- Please do not bring plastic bags to donate.
- Please do not bring plastic bags to donate.
- Do not, for any reason, park your vehicle in the driveway in front of the West Side Food Pantry door. There is parking in front of and in the back of the building, and at Mod Pizza.
- The door for the Pantry is on the side of the building facing Mod Pizza. Do not enter through the door on the back of the building facing A Street.
- Hours are dependent on volunteer availability, and can be found on the door to the Pantry, the web page for the Pantry, and the Pantry’s Facebook.
- Hours are subject to change without notice, but we will do our best to post them on the door and on Facebook.
- The West Side Food Pantry is set up so that you may take the items that you will use. The amounts are generally one item per household per shelf, unless otherwise labeled.
- Please be thoughtful when taking food. If you do not think you need an item, please leave it on the shelf for someone else.
- If you take items you do not end up using, please bring them back within one month.
- Please be thoughtful when taking food. If you do not think you need an item, please leave it on the shelf for someone else.
- Be kind and respect the neighbors, volunteers, and staff. If the Pantry attendant gives you instructions, please follow to the best of your ability.
Any repeated disregarding of any West Side Food Pantry policy may result in permanent loss in visiting privileges.
Donation Guide
Due to health & safety requirements, all unattended donations will be thrown away. All donations must be given to a Pantry volunteer during Pantry hours, unless coordinated with the Pantry Supervisor in advance. Please read below for additional guidelines
Yes:
- Fresh produce. We love uncut fresh produce, either from your garden or the store!
- Gluten free and other restricted diet foods. We appreciate receiving rice noodles, gluten free flour, and low-sugar foods!
- Baby supplies. Baby diapers and wipes, formula, and bath-time products are always welcome here. WIC and food stamps do not cover non-food items.
- Food before or close to the “best by” date. Per Idaho Food Bank standards, we can stretch the best by date for certain canned or boxed goods, but no longer than 24 months for most items.
- Individual Packaging. Or things that are easy to split - for example, laundry pods are great! Economy sized packaging can only serve one household, while a box of pods can be split to help many.
- Health and Beauty Items. Toilet paper, shampoo and conditioner, menstrual hygiene, deodorant, dental hygiene, and other “bathroom” necessities are not covered under food stamps and other assistance programs.
- Cleaning Items. Paper towels, counter wipes, laundry pods, and dish soap are some examples of much appreciated items.
No:
- Unattended donations. Due to health & safety requirements, all unattended donations will be thrown away. All donations must be given to a Pantry volunteer during Pantry hours, unless coordinated with the Pantry Supervisor in advance.
- Opened containers. Any containers that are opened or have a broken safety seal must be thrown away.
- Home baked goods. All donations must be prepared in a commercial kitchen and have the ingredients and either an expiration or prepared date listed.
Misc:
- Monetary donations are always welcome. Canned goods are fantastic, but they don’t pay the rent. We also have ways of obtaining exactly what we need at a lower cost than you.
- Most needed items are milk, bread, canned meat, jelly, granola bars, condiments, canned beans (protein- refried, kidney, black, beans, etc. - not green beans), canned fruit, chunky soups, and dehydrated potatoes.
- Community food drives: If you would be interested in partnering with us for a food drive through your school or work, please let us know in advance by sending an email to [email protected]
- One of the most important donations is your time! The Pantry runs on volunteers and none of this would be possible without volunteers.
Small Business Guidelines
For the health and safety of our neighbors, there are a few requirements that every food donation must follow, as provided by the Idaho Food Bank:
For the health and safety of our neighbors, there are a few requirements that every food donation must follow, as provided by the Idaho Food Bank:
- Any food item must be prepared in a commercial kitchen following Idaho food safety standards.
- Each batch of product must be labeled with its own list of ingredients.
- We do not keep a record of ingredients lists, as we are unable to reuse that information from previous donations.
- If there is an ingredient that itself has ingredients (for example, chocolate chips), then the “sub-ingredients” need to be included in the provided list.
- If possible, we would prefer that varieties are kept separate to avoid allergen cross-contamination.
- All packages must be labeled with the date the item was prepared.
- All food donations must be left with a volunteer or staff member.
Contact The Pantry
If you have any questions about what items to donate, or are interested in volunteering, please send the West Side Food Pantry an email.
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The hours are based on volunteer availability and are subject to change, the West Side Food Pantry Facebook page will be updated first, then the website. We also post immediate donation needs.
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One visit per household per week. This means that no matter how many people live in your home, there can only be one shopping trip for the whole household during any given week, with the week resetting every Sunday.
Please see the Visiting Guide above for additional rules and guidelines.
Please see the Visiting Guide above for additional rules and guidelines.
Physical Address:
730 W Pullman Rd. #3 Moscow ID 83843 |
Mailing Address:
PO Box 8205 Moscow ID 83843 |
We acknowledge that Inland Oasis is located on the ancestral homelands of the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) and Schitsu’umsh (Coeur d’Alene) tribes. We acknowledge that the region in which we live is named after the Palus (Palouse) tribe, who refused to cede their land and were wiped out by the US Government. We acknowledge the tribal history here, and work to respect their ancestors, as well as the diverse and vibrant Native communities who make their home here today.
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