#givelove #givehuman Good People doing Great Things - Our Loudoun Interfaith Relief is a lifeline for those living on the margins in our area, and their food bank is a big help. Next time or three that you are grocery shopping during this holiday seaason, consider adding a few extra items on the list and dropping them by. I copied this from a great article I saw a couple weeks back: WHAT FOOD BANKS NEED MOST (AND WHAT THEY GET TOO MUCH OF) Storage space is often in short supply at food banks, so prioritization is key. Canned meats: Think beyond tuna & soup, canned beef, canned ham, canned chicken, canned salmon. Or hearty ready-to-go meals like beef stew and chili with meat. Canned vegetables: Everyone donates green beans. Instead, give potatoes, carrots, spinach, peas or any other veggies your family likes. Canned fruit: Not pineapple. This is the most commonly donated fruit. Any other fruit, particularly those in fruit juice without extra sugar, would be great. Dried fruit works too (raisins, etc.) Boxes of rice (bags can tear) Low-sugar cereal like plain Cheerios or Raisin Bran Peanut butter Instant oatmeal, instant grits Cans of beans Pasta, pasta sauce Biscuit mix, or any mix you only add water to Cans, cartons or boxes of powered and evaporated milk Snack items for school: juice boxes, applesauce containers, granola bars Diapers in sizes above newborn, plus wipes Toiletries: toothbrushes, soap, toothpaste, lotion, shampoo & conditioner, Chapstick (consider someone living outside this time of year) Feminine hygiene products: unscented pads most universally used, not tampons Spices like cinnamon, oregano, basil, salt, pepper Sliced bread. It’s got a long shelf life but always goes immediately. Bags of apples or potatoes. Ditto. Chocolate. It’s not a necessity but just a pick-me-up that I would sure appreciate, especially when it comes time to fill stockings. Consider donating reusable shopping bags. It takes a lot of humility for people to come to a food bank and since they’ll likely be walking home or taking public transportation, it’s nice to at least blend in. WHAT I DIDN’T REALIZE ABOUT FOOD BANKS A lot of people have diabetes in this group. Consider low-sugar dietary restrictions. Some food banks have a recording (or a live person) who will explain their top needs of the moment by phone. Cans and boxes are sturdier than bags. By the time families are receiving the food, it’s been handled A LOT and packaging needs to be strong enough to hold up. One food bank said never bring anything in glass, ever. Pop-top cans are ideal; particularly for those living on the streets. Think about weekends and school breaks. Kids who qualify for free lunches typically receive breakfast at school too and when schools are out for holidays or summer, these families need more support.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 13:10:27 +0000
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