People often want to bring items with them to donate when they visit. Because people want to donate useful things, we provide this list of things that we use on a regular basis or need at this time.

• candles for the alter: 10" or 12" white taper candles

Please contact the kitchen manager at to find out exactly what sort of food is needed at this time. Generally, we can use the following items:

• All fresh fruits and vegetables (to make sure all items are used, please only bring fresh fruits and vegetables when you are coming for a retreat).
  • Pantry Items: Maple Syrup, Whole wheat sliced bread, plain bagels, steel-cut oats, high fiber/low sugar cold cereal (raisin bran type, Kashi Go Lean, etc), crystallized ginger, extra virgin olive oil, peanut oil, roasted peanut oil, thick rolled oats, wheat germ, fruit preserves, raisins, dried cranberries, natural or organic prunes, natural almond butter, natural peanut butter, canned pinto beans beans, raw pecan, cashew, almond and walnut halves, sesame seeds, Thai sweet chile sauce, rice vinegar, green olives and pickles (sweet or dill - sliced or spears), extra firm tofu, brown rice.
    
  Please note: The WV Health department has informed us that according to FDA regulations, we should not serve imported canned food.
  • Beverages: Personal-sized bottled water, canned frozen apple, orange and lemon-lime juice, canned/bottled non-frozen fruit juices, vegetable juice, non-refrigerated boxed unsweetened or regular soymilk and unsweetened almond milk (non-perishable), unsweetened cocoa powder, Nesquik, Ovaltine, Horlicks, herbal and green tea bags.

Paper Goods:

• Paper napkins, paper towels, boxed tissues

Medicine and Household Items

• Benadryl
• antacid tablets
• B complex
• calcium
• glucosamine/chondroitin
• Lactase enzyme (pills)
• Beano enzyme (pills)
• Dish Washing Detergent

General Items:

• tapered candles, tea candles, kitchen matches
• smokeless, colorless, 99% pure lamp oil
• Personal CD players with CD/CD-R/CD-RW, MP3 capability
• firestarters, kindling
• AAA batteries

Items We Do Not Need

• any size disposable or rechargable batteries
• bath towels
• balsmati rice
• Cheerios
• black tea (loose and bags)
• brown sugar
• tooth paste
• bar soap
• Q-tips
• garbage bags
• hand lotion
• band-aids
• incandescent light bulbs
• Thank you to all who have responded so generously to this list - Bhavana Society