When you participate in Flavors of Our Community, you provide the necessary ingredients for more families in our region to have nutritious and familiar meals. Together, we can remove barriers, help preserve family traditions, and make more of our neighbors feel at home.
This year, Flavors of Our Community runs from March 18 to May 1, 2026 — and the need for culturally-specific ingredients and ready-to-eat meals is especially high. As food prices remain high, more of our neighbors than ever are visiting food shelves. In fact, visits to food shelves have been steadily rising in Minnesota for many years. In 2025, Minnesotans made 9 million visits to food shelves. Recently, local nonprofits managing food shelves have been put under immense stress as they adapt to this growing need.
That's why we need your help. You can make a big impact without a big time commitment. Just add a few items to your next grocery trip and you can volunteer right from home, on your own schedule. When you volunteer with Flavors of Our Community, you help local food shelves by providing highly requested items, like ready-to-eat and culturally specific foods. Learn more about our work in food security with Flavors of Our Community partner, CAPI USA.
1. Pick the food, spices or ready-to-eat meals you’d like to donate
With the support and guidance of our nonprofit partners around the Twin Cities, we’ve developed 16 pantry, spices and baking packs representing six cultures, and four ready-to-eat meal and snack packs.
Afghan Staples
Place all items in a 2‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 (8–10 oz) Raisins
1 (16 oz bag) Dried Kidney Beans
1 (32 oz) Basmati Rice
1 (16 oz bag) Dried Lentils
Afghan Spices
Place all items in a quart Ziploc bag
1 (2 oz) Paprika
1 (1 oz) Turmeric
1 (2.5 oz ground) Chili Powder
1 (3.75 oz) Salt
1 (1.25 oz) Pepper
Indigenous Staples
Place all items in a 2‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 (14.75 oz) Canned Salmon / Chicken / Beef
1 (8.5 oz) Cornbread Mix
1 (14.5 oz) Canned Diced Tomatoes
1 (15.5 oz) Hominy Beans
1 (15.5 oz) Canned Red Kidney Beans
Indigenous Spices
Place all items in a 1‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 (8 oz) Better Than Bouillon (Vegetable)
1 (2.25 oz) Onion Powder
1 (2.25 oz) Garlic Powder
1 (16 oz) Honey
Karen (Kuh‑ren) Staples
Place all items in a 2‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 (4–7 oz) Sardines
1 (8 oz can) Bamboo Shoots
1 (3.75 oz bag) Bean Thread Noodles
1 (32 oz bag) Jasmine Rice
1 (32 oz) Vegetable Oil
Karen (Kuh‑ren) Spices
Place all items in a 1‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 (1 oz) Turmeric
1 (3.75 oz) Salt
1 (1.25 oz) Pepper
1 (2 oz) Ginger
1 (2.5 oz) Garlic Powder
1 (8 oz) Chili Garlic Sauce or Chili Oil
Latine Staples
Place all items in a 2‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 (15 oz can) Whole Kernel Corn
1 (12 oz can) Jalapeños
1 (16 oz bag) Dry Beans (Black or Pinto)
1 (32 oz bag) White Rice
1 (16 oz bag, shelf‑stable) Corn Tortillas
Latine Spices
Place all items in a 1‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 (2.5 oz ground) Cinnamon
1 (0.6 oz) Cumin
1 (1.8 oz ground) Cayenne
1 (3 oz) Garlic Powder
1 (8 oz) Adobo Seasoning
Southeast Asian Staples
Place all items in a 2‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 (4 oz can) Asian Mackerel or Sardines
1 (14 oz can) Baby Corn (Whole)
1 (8 oz can) Bamboo Shoots
1 (3.75 oz bag) Bean Thread Noodles
1 (13.5 oz can) Coconut Milk
1 (32 oz bag) Jasmine Rice
Southeast Asian Sauces
Place all items in a 1‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 (8 oz) Chili Garlic Sauce
1 (7 oz) Fish Sauce
1 (10 oz) Hoisin Sauce
1 (17 oz) Sriracha Sauce
East African Staples
Place all items in a 2‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 (16 oz bag) Dried Lentils
1 (18 oz bag or packets) Plain Oatmeal
1 (16 oz bag) Red Kidney Beans
1 (32 oz bag) Basmati Rice
1 (10 oz bag) Medjool Dates (Optional)
East African Baking Staples
Place all items in one jumbo (14×16″) bag or two 2‑gallon Ziploc bags
1 (24 oz bag) Semolina Flour
1 (4 lb bag) Sugar
3 (0.75 oz packets) Dry Yeast
1 (10 oz container) Baking Powder
1 (26 oz container) Salt
Universal Baking Staples
Place all items in one jumbo or two 2‑gallon Ziploc bags
1 (5 lb bag) All‑Purpose Flour
1 (4 lb bag) Sugar
1 (26 oz container) Salt
3 (0.75 oz packet) Active Dry Yeast
1 (32 oz) Vegetable Oil
Kids Snack Pack
Place all items in a 1‑gallon Ziploc bag
1 Granola Bar (Nut & Marshmallow Free)
1 Juice Box (100% Juice)
1 Fruit or Yogurt Pouch
1 Meat Stick (Pork Free)
1 Fruit Leather or Fruit Snacks
1 Bag of Pretzels
1 Napkin (Optional)
Family Snack Pack
Place all items in a 1‑gallon Ziploc bag
Trail Mix (4 individual bags or 1 large bag)
Pretzels (4 individual bags or 1 large bag)
4 Protein or Granola Bars
4 Meat Sticks (Pork Free)
2 Bags of Microwave Popcorn
2 Bags of Dried Fruit
4 Napkins (Optional)
Ready‑to‑Eat Pack
Place all items in a 2‑gallon Ziploc bag
2 Cans Ready‑to‑Eat Meals (Soup, Chili, etc.)
2 Macaroni & Cheese Cups
1 Package of Dried Fruit
2 Drinks (Juice Box, Shelf‑Stable Milk, V8 — No Soda)
2 Breakfast Items (Instant Oatmeal, Cereal Cup, Granola Bar)
4 Plastic Spoons (Optional)
4 Napkins (Optional)
2. Choose your drop-off location
A Flavors of Our Community collection box is inside the lobby at each of the following Old National Bank locations from March 23 – May 1, 2026, during open business hours (9:00am – 5:00pm). Choose an Old National Bank location that is convenient for you.
3. Sign up to volunteer:
Let us know what food packs you’ll donate and where you’ll drop them off: Sign up to volunteer at home.
4. Purchase and assemble
First, double-check what you signed up to donate. Then, the next time you're at the grocery store, pick up the needed items and put them in the designated Ziploc bag. Volunteering at home is a perfect family-friendly volunteer activity. It is flexible, meaningful and an easy activity for all ages.
5. Drop off your pack
Drop off your donation at the location you selected. And know that you’ve helped support local food shelves so more people in our region can make meals they can prepare, are culturally meaningful and that make them feel at home.
You’re helping families make culturally meaningful meals that honor their heritage and bring dignity and comfort to their tables. No matter where we are, the flavors of our community, and the dignity to prepare our own meals, make us feel at home. When we work together, we can ensure everyone has food that is nutritious, culturally relevant and affordable, toward long-term food security. Join Flavors of Our Community today!
