The town of Gilbert is holding a community-wide food drive Feb. 25-26 to feed families in town. 

Donation sites will be available throughout Gilbert through Feb. 26. Most locations will be collecting on the weekend from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 

People also may a financial contribution  directly to a food bank/pantry. Financial donations are welcome year round. Every $1 given can provide five meals or $30 worth of food for the hungry in Gilbert. Donors can make a cash donation online with any of the food pantries/banks below.  

• AZCEND Food Pantry 
• Matthew's Crossing Food Bank (enter For Gilbert Food Drive in comments line) 
• Midwest Food Bank (type Gilbert Food Drive in the memo) 
• Open Arms Care Center 
• St. Anne's Friends of the Needy (select Friends of the Needy in fund) 
• United Food Bank (put Gilbert food drive in the comments) 
• Vineyard Gilbert Food Pantry (select the drop down of food pantry) 

Financial donations are appreciated because of the food bank purchasing power.  For example, a household will typically donate $20 worth of food to a food drive.  That same $20 financial donation would yield $600 worth of food simply based on the Food Bank’s ability to procure donated food in large quantities.  And, because the food banks distribute the food to all food pantries in Gilbert, they receive 30 times the food to provide to people in need.   

Food pantries are in need year-round and these are the most needed items.  Food should be non-perishable and not expired.  Items in need include:  

• Applesauce Cups 
• Bags of beans 
• Bags of rice 
• Boxed meals (hamburger helper, tuna helper) 
• Breakfast Cereals (whole wheat, health preferred) 
• Canned fruits and vegetables 
• Canned meats like Ravioli, tuna, chicken and beef 
• Canned Pasta 
• Canned soup or stew 
• Chili con carne or beef stew 
• Diced tomato’s/ tomato sauce 
• Flour 
• Granola or snack bars 
• Jelly 
• Macaroni and cheese 
• Milk, canned or dried 
• Oil 
• Pasta 
• Peanut butter 
• Ramen noodles 
• Spaghetti sauce 
• Sugar 

Collection sites open during business hours include: 

• Buono's Pizza, 1464 E. Williams Field Road  
• Clothes Cabin, 710 N Cooper Road 
• Lou Malnatis Pizza, 3115 S Val Vista Drive (receive a free pizza coupon for any donation)  
• Majestic Gilbert 8, 5478 S. Power Road (receive one popcorn voucher per five donated items) 
• Texas Roadhouse, 3961 S. Gilbert Road 

Collection sites open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. include: 

• Chandler East Stake, 21320 S. Greenfield Road 
• Evident Life Church, 415 N. Gilbert Road 
• First United Methodist Church of Gilbert, 331 S. Cooper Road 
• Gateway Stake, 2958 S. Recker Road 
• Greenfield Stake, 2740 S. Lindsay Road (starting Friday, Feb. 24) 
• Highland East, 3580 E. Houston Ave. 
• Highland West, 495 S. Greenfield Road 
• Higley Stake, 1865 S. Higley Road 
• Living Word Bible Church, 202 S. Gilbert Rpad 
• Redemption Church, 1820 W. Elliot Road 
• San Tan Stake, 4170 S. Ranch House Parkway 
• Seville Stake, 5656 S. Higley Road 
• Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, 3225 S. Lindsay Road 
• St. Anne Roman Catholic Parish-Friends of the Needy, 14 N. Cottonwood Drive 
• Stapley Stake, 1100 N. Cooper Road 
• Sun Valley Church- South Gilbert, 5545 S. Lindsay Road 
• Superstition Springs, 4629 E. Guadalupe Road 
• Val Vista Stake, 1150 E. Guadalupe Road