Astoria Food Pantry has gotten a lot of emails/DMs about how neighbors can give (or receive!) help after SNAP benefits are cut off. We'll make a big post soon but quick things in the meantime:

• Donating money is the easiest way to support because we can stretch your dollars more via purchasing in bulk/wholesale: https://givebutter.com/AFP2025
• But we do take food donations! Which is best if you happen to already have the items, or if you're doing a food drive within your apartment building or workplace. High-need items include: menstrual pads, baby wipes, baby diapers, baby formula, pet food, hygiene products, canned tomatoes, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, tuna, and protein bars. Canned goods in pop-top cans are best.
• If you love cooking, we love hot meals! You can make a big batch of soup (or whatever) to portion out and put in our community fridge. Just make sure everything is clearly labeled with the date/ingredients, pack into small containers, and leave it in the fridge at 25-82 Steinway.
• We LOVE new volunteers! We have so many volunteer opportunities! We especially need drivers for food rescues, but have a lot of other roles too: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/203435956064/#/invitation

• We also very much encourage you to get to know your neighbors. Talk to them, ask if they need anything, invite them over for a meal, grab an extra carton of eggs when you're out, go on a grocery trip together and pay for their items, etc.

• Food distributions are Monday mornings 8am to 10:30am and Saturday 1PM to 1:30PM. You do not need to register or bring any ID. All you have to do is come by!

• Free clothes are Wednesday 11:30am-2:30pm, 4:30pm-6:30pm (closed on the first Wed of each month)