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24/7 Porch Pantry

Always open, always free. Our Porch Pantry is maintained by the community, for the community. Thank you to all our donors and participants who keep our shelves stocked. Let's continue to care for one another!

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Our Porch Values and Guidelines

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Self-determination is an integral value at Sunrise Project and one that we firmly uphold for participants in all of our programs, including our porch pantry. 

 

We believe: 

● Everyone deserves access to food, water, shelter, healthcare and social connection and joyful experiences. As our capacity allows, we will connect people to food, social connection and joyful experiences through our programs and activities and will work to create the conditions necessary for people of all backgrounds to access these resources with as few restrictions as possible.

● People know best what they need; we will try our best not be gatekeepers

● Trust people and they become trustworthy. We acknowledge that sometimes folks will act in ways that do not appear honest (e.g. taking 2 cases of bottled water or loading up all of the bread from the pantry); however, we believe that instead of judgment and policing, we need more connection and relationship-building to strengthen our culture of collective care and

true community. 

● No one owes us any explanation about why they participate in our porch pantry program or any other program that we offer. 

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Guidelines for Community and Business Donors: 

1. Donate only: Good food and hygiene items. (Ideas below). If food is from a restaurant or home kitchen, please label the contents and include the date that it was cooked. 

2. Never donate something that you or your household would not use or consume

3. Give without any strings, expectations or regulations attached

4. Suspend judgment of those that participate in our porch pantry program. You 

don’t know their story, background, circumstances or needs. This is where trust comes in. Do not be attached to a concept of who is worthy and who is not. 

 

Guidelines for Porch Pantry Participants: 

1. Take only what you will use and/or what will be used by the folks you are delivering to 

2. Keep a sharing attitude when using the porch 

3. Never take items from another participant or shame them for what they are taking with them 

4. Help keep the porch clean and tidy as much as you can -

it takes all of us to keep this program going! 

5. If you would like to be a regular porch pantry volunteer

email melissa@sunriseprojectks.org or text/call 785-865-1618 and we will give

you cleaning supplies to use!

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All are welcome, all the time.

Take what you need, leave what you can. No questions asked.

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Our Porch Pantry is open 24/7 for donations. Please place any perishables in the fridge or freezer, and any non-perishables or hygiene items on the shelves. ​

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We only accept food and hygiene item donations. In the winter, we also accept coats, jackets, gloves/mittens, hats, scarves and socks.

 

For recommended donations, please look below for highly requested items. Please only donate food that is safe to eat & packaged well. 

 

FRESH FOOD:

  • Individually packed & labelled home-cooked meals

  • Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs

  • Milk, Coffee, and Juice

  • Meat

  • Cheese

  • Butter + Oil

  • Spices + Seasonings

  • Diabetic friendly, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options

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GRAB & GO SNACKS:

  • Granola Bars

  • Fruit Snacks

  • Applesauce

  • Gatorade

  • Water Bottles

  • Peanut Butter

  • Cereal

  • Canned Food with Pop Tabs

 

HYGIENE ITEMS:

  • Shampoo + Conditioner

  • Body Wash

  • Deodorant

  • Diapers

  • Menstrual Supplies

  • Toothbrush + Toothpaste

  • Hand Sanitizer

  • Baby Wipes

  • First Aid Supplies

  • Sunscreen

  • Skin Care

 

Winter Items

  • Coats & Jackets (there is a rack for hanging items)

  • Gloves & mittens

  • Scarves

  • Hats

  • Socks

Accessory items can be placed in the filing cabinet on the west side of the porch! ​

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