To read how important your donated food is for CORA clients, check out these short client stories.

DONATE FOOD

More than 50% of the food CORA distributes to hungry families is donated! This source of food is VERY IMPORTANT to us! To make sure your donation of food does the most good, keep the following guidelines in mind.

Please DO NOT USE GLASS CONTAINERS. They Easily Break and Result in Spills!

New Food Donors Can Sign Up Online.

Thank you for continuing to provide such a high volume of donated food, cash, and checks! March 2023 was the 7th largest amount of monthly donated funds in our 12 year history.

CORA's MOST NEEDED food donation items for May 2024 will be posted here soon:

Thank you all so much for helping us feed our neighbors in need and ensuring we have enough food on hand. CORA deeply appreciates all the hard work Fearrington residents and PORCH Fearrington all pour into meeting the significant food needs of families each month.

Also, Check Out These Items That CORA Always Needs

CORA has also developed a list of items that you could add to the "Most Needed" list throughout the year and is confident that these products will move quickly all year long.

• Cereal Bars

• Pancake Mix

• Sugar

• Flour

• Oil

• Salt & Pepper

• Sweet Spices - cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice

• Savory Spices - garlic, basil, parsley

• Tissues

• Toothbrushes & Toothpaste

• Soap

• Deodorant

• They do give out coffee. Instant coffee, K-cups, and ground coffee are all appreciated.  They ask that people don't donate whole beans.

Just a few reminders:

• Due to food safety, we ask that you do not donate food items that are unsealed, loose items without ingredients listed, or glass containers.

• Please make an effort not to donate food that’s past its “use-by” or “sell-by” date. We are committed to serving our families the most nutritious and delicious food that we can in an atmosphere of dignity and respect,

While plastic bags are OK for the donations, it is a lot easier for our collecting and transferring the food when we arrive at CORA if you use PAPER bags (which are a renewable resource), rather than plastic bags (which are not recyclable). The contents often fall out of plastic bags, making the handling of large volumes of food more difficult. If plastic bags are easier for you, feel free to use them for your donations. CORA likes to have a supply of plastic bags on hand for people who come for the donated food, so please do donate those empty plastic bags you do not need.

If you would also like to make a cash donation to CORA, you can safely and conveniently do so by using this secure link:  Your donation will go directly to CORA and you will receive an immediate receipt in reply (or you can request that one be sent to you in the mail if you prefer).

CORA accepts donations of shelf-stable foods — canned fruit/vegetables, boxed cereals, rice, pasta, baking mix and shelf-stable specialty items (drink mix, coffee, tea, pancake mix, condiments, herbs and spices, ethnic foods, other pantry staples, etc.). They also accept paper products – especially bathroom tissue and paper towels – and personal hygiene items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, disposable razors, etc.

Place all donations in bags (not boxes) and please don’t overload them (more lighter bags are better than a few heavy ones). While plastic bags are OK for the donations, it is a lot easier for our collecting and transferring the food when we arrive at CORA if you use PAPER bags (which are a renewable resource), rather than plastic bags. The contents often fall out of plastic bags, making the handling of large volumes of food more difficult. If plastic bags are easier for you, feel free to use them for your donations. CORA likes to have a supply of plastic bags on hand for people who come for the donated food, so please do donate those you do not need. 

You do not need to donate every month. Just let your neighborhood coordinator know when you will be participating.

An additional opportunity to help CORA is to keep their Birthday Closet stocked. They maintain a special closet for children's birthday parties and need items like cake and frosting mix, small, inexpensive toys (safe and marked for age range), snacks, and party supplies.  If you would like to help in this way, please put these items in separate bags that are clearly marked, "Birthday Closet."

   OTHER ITEMS CORA OFTEN NEEDS ARE LISTED BELOW