Neighborhood Food Sharing
Mutual Aid Tompkins is working with community members to get Food Sharing Cabinets located across Tompkins County. Please look at the map of current locations here to see if there is a cabinet in your area. We welcome community members to take and leave food and other essential items at cabinets. Cabinets are open for use 24/7. If you would like to request a cabinet for your area, please send us an email at foodsharing@mutualaidtompkins.com. Additionally, we have the schematics below if you would like to build your own. Please email us with any questions.
Join the Food Sharing Cabinet Facebook group to stay up to date on which cabinets need restocking and additions of new cabinets.
Donate to Existing Food Cabinets
NOTICE FOR WINTER TIME DONATIONS - safe and unsafe foods to donate during the winter
Current food cabinet locations can be found here.
Anyone can drop off masks and other hygiene items, non-perishable food, like canned food, dry grains, and cereals at any time. Check the cabinets to see what’s available and what’s missing before making purchases or dropping off food! Shelf stable baby food and formula have been very popular in the cabinets.
If you would like to donate to support filling these cabinets with goods, please do so via our PayPal.
Can you print out a flyer with locations and post it somewhere publicly in your community? Click here to download the flyer.
Fund a Food Cabinet
The suggested materials, labor and delivery cost approximately $200.
Build a Food Cabinet
Click here to download the schematics for the food cabinet.
Suggested Materials
2 sheets 3/4 CDX plywood. Better grade is recommended; it will be flatter, fewer voids in ply layers, and lead to easier assembly.
Example: BC Pine ULX Exterior at Lowes ($31.58)
2x4, 2 ft section for top front rail of box
Pressure treated 2x2 x16’’ - 2 for bottom skids (lifting box off of the ground)
1 cement block - 4”x8”x16” solid cap block for ballast at bottom of box
2 inch construction screws for assembly
Valspar 1 coat exterior stain and sealer, solid color, we used a Uniform Blue. You could use any exterior paint that you have on hand.
Magnetic cabinet door catches and or exterior latch, hook or barrel bolt, and 4 T strap hinges, 2 wooden knobs
Notes
Cabinet could be staked in place, screwed to a wall, depending on site situation.
Baker Miller Lumber in Groton delivers (25.00 delivery fee), as does Builders Best. Lowes has in person shopping or curbside pick up.
Download the signs to post on the cabinets here. It is best to laminate the signs to help withstand the weather.
Please include a Spray Bottle along with bleach solution for people to use when accessing the cabinet.