Donating Potluck Leftovers to the Nearby Women’s Shelter

Been to a Town potluck and got food that you can’t finish yourself?  You can leave it at the women’s shelter near the Crabbs Branch Giant.  Below is information about what they will and won’t take, and how to drop it off.

Food

• All packaged foods (bags of chips, jars of pickles, etc.) should be unexpired and unopened.  If you have crackers that are two packs to a package, they will take the unopened pack even if you’ve opened the other pack.

• Cooked food is fine, but should be no more than two days old (to ensure safety).  Please attach the recipe if possible, so that ladies with allergies to specific ingredients can avoid them.  Please also bring enough food for a large group; 16 drumsticks would be fine but four drumsticks, not so fine.

• Fresh fruit is fine but not uncooked meat or vegetables; the shelter only has a warming oven.

• Food with allergens, for example peanuts, is fine, but please make note of the ingredientss if possible.

• Baking ingredients: sugar is fine, because they will use it to sweeten their coffee/tea.  But other ingredients, like flour and baking soda, will not be used since they don’t have a full kitchen.

Dropping Off the Food

• You do not need to call in advance, but if you do, the number is 301-978-7041.

• Both men and women are welcome to drop off donations.

• The address is 16911 Crabbs Branch Way, Derwood.

• It’s best to go to the side door on the left, at the back, which leads directly to the kitchen.  If you use the front entrance, note the buzzer on the right side of the door.  You must be buzzed in.

Note that there is a second women’s shelter at 2 Taft Court, off of Gude Drive.

Questions?  Contact Interfaith Works’ volunteer coordinator Michelle Harris at [email protected] or 301-525-1999.

This document that explains the shelters’ complete food guidelines (PDF), but note that these guidelines are geared towards organizations that regularly prepare full meals for all residents.