St. Andrew's Food Cupboard

Who Can Visit?

St. Andrew's Food Cupboard serves families in the St. Andrew's area of Rochester. It's part of a network of food pantries in Monroe County that covers a specific section of the 14609 and 14621 zip codes. People of every age, race, and religion are welcome, and single mothers and children make up most of the families it helps. When you arrive, a front room volunteer will sit down with you for a short interview to fill out an intake form and figure out how the pantry can best help your family. One visitor shared that the staff still helped them with food even though they lived outside the zip code.

How Often You Can Visit?

A visitor shared that you can come to the pantry about once a month.

Good to Know

Visitors say each trip gives them enough food for a couple of days. The staff are often described as kind, respectful, and welcoming, and one person called it a wonderful first-time experience. If you don't speak English, it can help to bring someone who can translate so the intake paperwork goes smoothly.

Food & Essentials

The pantry gives groceries that families can take home and cook, and each month it provides more than 1,100 meals to over 300 families. You can expect fresh and frozen goods, along with canned goods and other non-perishable foods. One visitor noted that they always give out fresh and frozen items, including food that can be too expensive to buy at the grocery store. The pantry also shares personal care products and other personal items beyond food.

How to Pick Up

This is a menu-based pantry. A front room volunteer reviews the weekly menu with you and helps you choose the items that work best for your family. Those choices go onto a pick list, and the back room volunteers gather, box, and bag your order so it's ready to take home.

Additional Support

St. Andrew's runs a small but growing home delivery service for homebound residents who can't get out of the house, such as people recovering from illness or surgery. Beyond food, the pantry also connects families with referrals to other helpful services.

Facilities

The pantry has a clothing room where families who need clothes can get them. Some visitors have also found furniture there.

Ways to Give

The Cupboard welcomes direct food donations. Individuals can drop off canned goods, non-perishable foods, and personal products during normal operating hours. For larger deliveries, you can call (585) 338-1764 to arrange a pickup. Businesses can set up drop-off or pickup through the Business Donation Form, and groups can run food drives with the pantry's help. You can also give money to support bulk food purchases, rent, utilities, and other operating costs. Cash donations can be dropped off during business hours, check donations can be mailed in, and the ability to accept credit cards is coming soon. The address is St. Andrew's Food Cupboard Inc., 892 Portland Avenue, Rochester, NY 14621.

How to Join the Team?

The entire pantry is run by volunteers, who usually spend two to four hours a week helping out. There are many ways to pitch in, including working with clients in the front room, stocking and bagging orders, transporting supplies from other locations, delivering food to homebound neighbors, helping during the holidays, and writing grants. To get started, fill out the volunteer interest form and a volunteer will reach out to you.