About the 2026 March Food Drive
As Merrick Community Services prepares for our 2026 March Food Drive, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible support we’ve received from our community to help alleviate food insecurity for our neighbors on the East Side of Saint Paul and beyond. However, with over 30,000 visits to our Food Shelf this past year, the need for food is at an all-time high.
Our 2026 March Food Drive goal is to raise at least $30,000. Your donations make a big difference! Will you help your neighbors with a food or monetary donation this March?
Interested in hosting a collection box or barrel at your workplace or living community? Reach out to Amy Votel at avotel@merrickcs.org.
Donate Money
Monetary donations can be stretched further than donations of food because of access to discount products and programs.
Mail a check to:
Merrick Community Services
1669 Arcade Street North, Suite 4
St. Paul, MN 55106
If you have questions about making a monetary donation for the March Food Drive, please contact Kate Kelly, Director of Development at 651-219-5557 or development@merrickcs.org.
Donate Food
March 1 – April 6
Monday – Thursday 8 am – 4:30 pm
During these dates and times, you can drop your food donations at:
Merrick Community Services
1669 Arcade Street North, Suite 4
St. Paul, MN 55106
Drive into the Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church parking lot off of Idaho and Larpenteur. Head to the north of the lot where you will see Merrick’s building. Follow the signs for the food shelf which is on the back side of the building at door 2A.
If you have questions about making a food donation for the March Food Drive, please contact Joshua Bau, Food Services Manager at 651-219-5535 or jbau@merrickcs.org.
What to Donate
Any donations are appreciated but here are the top five food-appropriate items that the community needs:
1: Cooking oils and vinegars; such as canola oil, olive oil, chili oil, sesame oil, red or white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, champagne vinegar, butter, Mirin and any other cooking oils or vinegars.
2: Spices; dried chilies of all varieties, cumin, coriander, red pepper flakes, garlic, ginger, turmeric, paprika, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, curry, cayenne pepper, Cajun seasoning, black pepper, kosher salt, bay leaves, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, star anise, caraway, fenugreek, all spice, sage, and any other spice.
3: Cooking Sauces; Tamari or generic soy sauce, fish sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Tamarind paste, fermented bean pastes, chili pastes, coconut milk, Oyster sauce, Garlic Chili Sauce, Beef broth, Vegetable broth, Chicken broth, Sriracha or any other sauces for cooking.
4: Proteins; Peanut butter, Almond butter, cashew butter, spam, tuna, canned chicken, smoked salmon, sardines, smoked eel, or any other shelf stable proteins.
5: Grains; Jasmine rice, basmati rice, apple brand sweet rice, Kokuhu rice, Nishiki rice, artisan egg noodles, rice noodles, Soba noodles, all-purpose flour, rice flour, corn flour, fufu flour, semolina flour, whole wheat flour or any other grains.
Other Ways to Support
Are you interested in hosting a food drive at your company, organization, church, or school? We are always looking for new and/or returning food drive partners. Bins, barrels, marketing pieces, and other materials can be provided.
Interested? Please contact Amy Votel at avotel@merrickcs.org or at 651-348-6568.