What are food sharing cabinets? According to Mutual Aid Tompkins, food sharing cabinets are “outdoor food cabinets across the county that have been set up by community members. These cabinets are regularly stocked with non-perishable food and are open to anyone.” Cabinets are open 24/7 and anyone can drop off items as well as pick them up.

The food sharing cabinets in Ithaca are an extension of a grassroots movement called the mini pantry movement that is spreading across the U.S. and the world. This movement provides food (non-perishables) and other necessities to people in the neighborhood who need it. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the mini pantry movement has spread as far as Australia and Thailand, and now includes other necessities like hand sanitizer, hand soap, and disinfectant wipes.

These food sharing pantries provide a “take what you need, leave what you can” service. The anonymity of the cabinets removes the barrier of asking an organization or neighbor for help and allows individuals and families to access food immediately when they need it.

These cabinets show the power of community involvement. You never know what people are going through, especially during this pandemic. But providing low- to no-cost food is an easy way to relieve a burden off those who are wondering where their next meal will come from.

Food sharing pantries can be found throughout the county:

(For a full list of up-to-date locations of Food Sharing Cabinets, visit the Mutual Aid Tompkins website)

Ithaca 

• 109 Cleveland Ave
• 311 Wood St
• 307 W State St
• 128 Muriel St
• 501 N. Aurora St
• 306 Elm St
• Multicultural Resource Center: 516 W State St
• Alice Miller & Franklin: 514 Alice Miller Way
• Varna Community Center: 943 Dryden Rd
• Recycle Ithaca’s Bicylces: 530 W Buffalo St
• Ithaca Free Clinic: 521 W Seneca St
• Island Fitness: Buffalo St side
• Overlook Apts 200 W Hill Circle
• Fraternal Order of Eagles: 161 Cecil Malone Dr

Brooktondale 

• Brooktondale Community Center: 524 Valley Rd

Danby

• West Danby: 25 Maple Ave
• Danby Community Church: 1859 Danby Rd
• Coddington Rd Community Ctr: 920 Coddington Rd Community

Enfield 

• Enfield Main: 168 Enfield Main Rd
• The Learning Farm: 272 Enfield Falls Rd

Newfield

• 2 Douglas Rd
• 768 Millard Hill Rd

Trumansburg 

• 110 Parkside Dr
• 16 E Main St
• Cellar Doors: 1661 Trumansburg Rd, Lot 4

Etna

• Fall Creek Mobile Park: 79 Lower Creek Rd

Freeville 

• 510 Asbury Rd
• Covenant Love School: 1768 Dryden Rd
• Freevile Village Hall: 5 Factory st
• Lehigh Crossing Apartments 15 Cook St

Lansing 

• 45 Atwater Rd
• 26 Auburn Rd

Dryden

• Montgomery Park: Elm St
• Second Knob Antiques: 129 North St
• Dryden Elementary School 36 Union St
• Finger Lakes Spine & Body: 87 W Main St
• Poet’s Landing (Laundry Room): 4 TS Eliot Dr

Groton

• Groton Village Pavilion: Main St

McLean

• McLean Fire Dept: 2 Stevens Rd

Slaterville

• Slaterville Fire Dept: 2681 Slaterville Rd

Truxton 

• Beth’s Natural Way 3728 NY-13

Virgil 

• 2886 State Rt 215

Cortland

• 48 Penguin Dr, Cortland, NY
• 5 Pierce St Cortland, NY