Immediate Needs

The numbers of people in crisis continue to rise:  The Foundation supplies over 50 families a day with groceries and other household items.

...it is difficult to ask for help. The staff was so kind.

...it is difficult to ask for help. The staff was so kind.

The most needed items: Donations of Food, Household Items and Furniture

Donation Drop Off Hours
Tuesday through Friday: 10 AM until 2 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM until 7:30 PM

Large furniture donations? We are able to offer limited pick-up at your location. Call (231) 947-2055 ext 16 to discuss.

Pantry Items We Need Most

Please help us work towards less sugar, salt and fat in our pantry foods.

  • Canned Pork and Beans
  • Canned Stews/Chili
  • Canned Tuna/Chicken packed in water
  • Evaporated/Powdered Milk
  • Lower Sodium Canned Soups
  • Peanut Butter
  • Canned Fruit packed in water or its own juice
  • Canned Kidney/Navy Beans
  • Canned Pastas/Hash
  • Rice-All varieties
  • Tomato sauce/diced
  • Toothpaste/Toilet Paper/Bar Soap
  • Unsweetened Cereals (Hot and Cold)
  • Pancake mixes/syrup
  • Diapers and Wipes
  • Please, no expired food
  • Donations of meat (wild or domestic) require special processing to be used by the food pantry. Please call (231) 947-2055, in advance, for details.


Currently, we do not accept the following:

  • Oversized Furniture/Large Appliances
  • Sofa Sleepers/Water Beds
  • Exercise & Sports Equipment
  • Recycle Household Fixtures
  • Computer, CRT Monitors, Printers, Scanners
  • Office Furniture (Desk, Office Chairs, File Cabinets)
  • Musical Equipment (pianos, organs, etc.)
  • Oversized Big Screen Floor Model TVs, Floor Model Console TVs
  • Carpeting/Building Material/Hazardous Materials
  • Medical equipment
  • Car Seats
  • Humidifiers/Dehumidifiers


Click here for Cash Donations.  As you give your credit card information there will be a box to put in comments. If you want to direct your gift to be used for a specific purpose, please type it in the comments field. Non-directed gifts are very important for The Foundation as they allow us to be flexible to the current needs of our clients at any given time.   

Clothing, Furniture and Other Household Goods
The Father Fred Foundation is always looking for clothing and household items in excellent condition can be given to families in need. Items will be used for the benefit of our clients. Most are used in our Clothing and Household Goods Departments as well as the Food Pantry. Some donations are held for garage sales that take place in the Spring and Fall, and some may be sold online. All proceeds from items sold are used for purchase of food or financial aid for clients. Items that are stained, torn, broken or in disrepair will not be accepted. The Foundation also cannot accept some larger items that might be too bulky or heavy to lift or store.


Heavy Furniture Items
If you have particularly large or heavy items, please call ahead to make sure we will be able to help you unload. We are unable to accept sleeper sofas, for example, because of their weight and size. We would hate to have you come all the way to The Foundation only to be unable to unload your donation item.

All clothing and food donations can be made at the covered drive-through drop off on the south side of The Foundation at 826 Hastings Street, Traverse City, MI. Traffic should enter the north parking lot of The Foundation and proceed to drive around the building where clothing and food may be dropped.

Pick Up – If you have large furniture items you cannot deliver, The Foundation may be able to arrange a time to pick-up at your location. Call (231) 947-2055 ext 16 to discuss.