Supporting Our Neighbors Amid SNAP Cuts

We are doing a short-term food drive to get donations of holiday foods to Foodworks to help people who are food-insecure have enough for the festivities.

A drop box will be placed just beyond the cash registers to collect non-perishable seasonal foods like stuffing mix, canned veggies, etc for the holiday, Saturday 11/15 through Tuesday 11/25.

Foods to Donate (we’ll have this list available at the store as well)

• Holiday-specific:
  • Stuffing mix
  • Non-perishable gravy or gravy mix
  • Canned cranberry sauce
  • Cream of mushroom soup
  • Canned vegetables like green beans and corn

• Always in need:
  • Easy-to-prep meals such as mac & cheese 
  • Canned Tuna & Chicken
  • Cooking Oil
  • Any special dietary foods like vegan, vegetarian, gluten free
  • Bath soap
  • Toothpaste
  • Baby Formula
  • Halal-certified foods (see below for more info)
  • Pasta and pasta sauce
  • Rice
  • Oats
  • Dried beans/lentils
  • Protein bars
  • Beverages
  • Lozenges

Halal-certified Foods: a VERY Brief Guide

(Based on www.halalrc.org. Visit the website for more details.)

When shopping for someone who keeps halal, aim for clear labeling and, when in doubt, choose a vegetarian option.

Three Basic Guidelines

1. Check for Certification: Look for a Halal certification symbol or a clear statement that the product meets halal standards. There is not one official symbol (see below for examples). Read the ingredient label attentively every time, as recipes can change.

2. Avoid Prohibitions (Haram):

• Pork and all pork by-products (e.g., bacon, ham, lard).
• Alcohol or food cooked with/prepared with alcohol (e.g., wine vinegar, some vanilla extracts).
• Meat from animals not slaughtered according to Islamic law (Zabīḥah).

3. The Safe Choice: When uncertain, offer a vegetarian/plant-based alternative. Most whole, unprocessed foods are naturally acceptable.

Watch for These Ingredients

Gelatin: Common in gummies, marshmallows, yogurt, and medicine capsules. Often from non-halal beef or pork
Rennet / Enzymes: Used in cheesemaking. Choose “microbial” or “vegetable” sources.
Mono- and Diglycerides / Glycerin: Can be from animal or vegetable fat. Only safe if confirmed vegetable-based or certified halal.
Lard / Shortening: Often animal-based. Avoid unless clearly labeled vegetable-based.
Vanilla Extract / Ethyl Alcohol: Used in flavorings. Look for alcohol-free or halal-certified versions.
Natural/Artificial Flavoring/Broth: May contain extracts or fats from non-halal animals.