How to donate a large amount of instant ramen

January 29, 2022 3:21 PM

A friend (in the US) works for a company that keeps a well-stocked office kitchen. This office is now closing, switching to permanent WFH. Most of the food has been claimed by employees but a lot ramen packets nobody wants will be discarded -- all of them well within their use-by dates. My friend, hoping their company would donate them, was told food banks prefer not to receive low-quality nutrition like instant ramen. Is this really the case? If so, how could my friend give away several dozen ramen packets all at once? This is in Minneapolis.
posted by theory to Food & Drink (20 answers total)

Little neighborhood pantries would take them. Or post it to their but nothing facebook page.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 3:27 PM on January 29, 2022 [4 favorites]

It’s a cliché, but I know the student union at the college where I work accepts ramen for their student food shelf (I walk by it every day so I notice what’s there). Your friend could try local college and university student unions/food pantries.

(Oops, Jinx sm1tten!)
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 3:35 PM on January 29, 2022 [3 favorites]

Agreed; the university student union where I work (not in MN) would be very grateful for the donation.
posted by Juniper Toast at 3:58 PM on January 29, 2022

If the above options fail, look for a mutual aid group in your area. There will quite likely be someone grateful for the assistance.
posted by Stacey at 4:23 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]

Put them up on Facebook freecycle?
posted by kschang at 4:25 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]

Best answer: This is the webpage for the U of MN student food pantry. Their focus seems to be healthy foods, but it's worth contacting them to see if they'd like it.

Our local food pantry (north of the cities) definitely hands out ramen along with healthier food, so I wouldn't discount pantries as a donation destination.
posted by belladonna at 4:26 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]

All three of the food banks I've volunteered at (Seattle) give out ramen. One of them even buys it if they don't get it donated.
posted by Gorgik at 5:15 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]

Facebook buy-nothing/freecycle groups.
posted by rawralphadawg at 5:33 PM on January 29, 2022 [2 favorites]

Guessing Augsburg's campus kitchen would find a good home for them.
posted by shadygrove at 5:40 PM on January 29, 2022

I spent an afternoon volunteering at a foodbank in the Seattle area and there was soooooo much ramen to sort, it was a highly requested item.
posted by pazazygeek at 5:49 PM on January 29, 2022

Google "community fridge" + [your location]
posted by praemunire at 6:05 PM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]

Your local mutual aid network would no doubt be happy to receive it.
posted by corb at 6:12 PM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]

Each public school district should have someone serving kids experiencing homelessness, and in a larger district that's often an office that will accept donations of foods like this for distribution to the other social workers to help support their kids throughout the days.
posted by teremala at 6:17 PM on January 29, 2022

Best answer: Can you call the food bank and explain why you have the ramen? They probably don’t want people purchasing it just to donate but since it’s an overstock situation they might take it?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 7:01 PM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]

Some youth centers stock snacks for the kids who experience food insecurity. They don’t necessarily only want healthy food because the kids might not eat it.
posted by Comet Bug at 8:05 PM on January 29, 2022 [1 favorite]

Listing it on either Nextdoor or. Facebook Buy Nothing page would have someone coming to pick it up within the day, if my experience applies.
posted by hungrytiger at 11:52 PM on January 29, 2022

A homeless shelter may want them, or if you have a nearby community college, see if they have a student pantry.
posted by stormyteal at 11:53 PM on January 29, 2022

Best answer: Was your friend told that by specific food banks, or is it more like she's generally heard they won't want ramen? If it's the latter she should definitely call up specific food banks herself and ask.
posted by augustimagination at 2:57 AM on January 30, 2022 [4 favorites]

Nthing Facebook freecycle type groups. In my location if you posted "Free ramen from office closure, all non-expired! Porch pickup in $Neighborhood" it would be gone in a matter of hours.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 3:23 AM on January 30, 2022 [2 favorites]

I'd leave it in the lobby of any university building while school is in session, write FREE TO GOOD HOME on the box and watch the hordes materialize. Seriously cannot think of an easier thing to give away than instant noodles!
posted by potrzebie at 12:17 PM on January 30, 2022 [1 favorite]