Food & Clothing Pantry
St. Alphonsus Food and Clothing Center is a client-choice pantry that serves those living on the Northeast area of Grand Rapids. Neighbors in need are invited to come and shop for food, clothing, and personal care products once a month free of charge.
HOURS
Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Friday: CLOSED
ADDRESS
228 Carrier St. NE in the former school building.
The main entrance can be found at the double green doors behind the oak tree in the courtyard.
CONTACT
pantry@stalphonsusgr.org
616-588-0671
Food
Serves individuals and families in northeast Grand Rapids. Clients can receive food once a month at either St. Alphonsus or North End Community Ministries (NECM), our sister pantry located at 214 Spencer St NE. To receive food, please register your household either at St. Alphonsus at 228 Carrier St NE or NECM (616-454-1097).
Clothing
Free distribution to families in northeast Grand Rapids. Neighbors can shop for free clothing and receive two outfits per person in their household once a month. Donations of new or gently used clothing are gladly welcomed. Clothing may be dropped off at the center during hours of operation or to the parish office.
To Volunteer
Our Food and Clothing Pantry is able to exist because of our caring volunteers! If you have a heart for our neighbors in need and wish to partake in a compassionate outreach, St. Alphonsus is the place for you! Many of our volunteers come weekly, but our volunteer schedule is flexible.
Donation Policy
The Food and Clothing Center gratefully accepts your time, donations, monetary and prayerful support. Our Center welcomes the following:
Clothing: New and gently used men’s, women’s, children’s, and infant’s clothing as well as shoes, accessories, underwear, and socks.
Food: Canned and dry goods that are unopened and not past their expiration date.
Personal Care Products: Items such as toilet paper, laundry soap, dish soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, lotion, towels, sheets, disposal razors, shaving cream, feminine products, diapers, shampoo, and other household and hygiene needs are always in high demand.
Small Household Goods: Sheets, towels, books, small appliances (toasters, coffee makers, etc), dishes, and kitchen utensils are very popular with our neighbors.
History
St. Alphonsus Food and Clothing Center opened in 1973 in a storefront at Leonard and College NE. The center moved several times to different parish spaces and the basement of Carrier Crest Apartments before settling in its current location in the parish center in 2013. Due to the generosity of parishioners, we now have a beautiful, barrier-free space that allows our neighbors to shop in a grocery store and clothing boutique setting.
The Center provides food for three days to an average of 1200 people each month. Some food comes by direct donation. Most, however, is purchased at from Feeding America West Michigan and at discounted prices from local grocery stores. Funding comes primarily from parishioners.
Mobile Food Pantry
St. Alphonsus hosts a mobile food truck every 1st Tuesday of the month April-November in the parking lot across from the church. Registration begins at 3:45 p.m. and distribution begins at 4 p.m. Food is distributed via drive-through. Anyone in need is welcome to come, no ID required.
Holiday Programs
This year, we will be delivering Thanksgiving meals to partner low-income, senior apartment complexes ONLY. We are unable to take additional requests. Volunteers are needed to prepare food on Wednesday, November 26 from 10 a.m. - noon and to pack and deliver meals on Thanksgiving day from 8 a.m. - noon. SIGN UP to VOLUNTEER HERE.
Pantry Wish List
The Food and Clothing Store gratefully accepts your time, donations, monetary, and prayerful support. We ask that any donated food be unopened and that clothing be clean and in season. Donations are accepted at our pantry in the former school building from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday and at the Parish Office during normal business hours.
Pantry items needed throughout the year include:
Toilet paper, laundry soap, dish soap, tooth paste, tooth brushes, bar soap, lotion, towels, sheets, disposal razors, shaving cream, feminine products, diapers, shampoo
USDA Information
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD- 3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online by clicking here, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
Mail
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; orFax
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or