Food Pantry donations -- New Missouri law allows 50% deduction This year you might want to take advantage of a new Missouri law that allows donors to food pantries to receive tax credits worth 50% of the value of their donation. The food pantry donation can be either money earmarked for the pantry or items donated directly to the pantry. Click here to print off a copy of the Missouri tax form you will need to use. Please see your tax preparer for more details and to decide whether this is a tax credit you want to use. Notice that the form asks for dates of contribution. We record your donation on our pantry log on the day it arrives, but record it in our electronic data base on a monthly basis only. At tax time, we can quickly tell you the months in which you donated, but exact dates will take us a little longer. If you want exact donation dates, please allow us a few days to retrieve the information from our storage files. Notice also that the form asks for contribution amount. We record your donation as pounds, not the monetary value of the food. You and your tax preparer have to determine the monetary value of your total pounds of donated food. According to Harvesters Food Bank in Kansas City and America’s Second Harvest Food Bank, a pound of food is valued at $1.29. If you donate money for pantry use, please write “pantry” on the memo line of your check so we can post your donation to the correct fund and can easily retrieve the information for your at tax time. For complete program regulations and tax forms, visit the Missouri Department of Revenue website.

Pantry Wish List Food: Meats and fish, canned and dry soups, beans, rice, pasta sauces, tomato products, canned fruits, vegetables, ground beef, turkey, venison (must be professionally processed) and cereal. Personal care: Toothbrushes, razors, sanitary napkins, shampoo, deodorant and bath soap. Baby needs: Diapers (especially larger sizes), canned and dry baby foods, formula, baby wipes. Household cleaning: Laundry soap, liquid dish soap, sink/tub cleaner, toilet cleaner, trash bags, plungers.