WHAT FOOD BANKS NEED MOST (AND WHAT THEY GET TOO MUCH OF) Canned meats: Think beyond tuna & soup, which food banks get tons of. Instead go for 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 kids to take to 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 will be 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. ...... A lot of people have diabetes in this group. Consider low-sugar dietary restrictions. 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. 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. Many families are in crisis at this time in their lives and food banks often work in tandem with churches or other non-profit programs to get them back on their feet. The Salvation Army in Durham, for example, coordinates with First Baptist Church’s “Jobs for Life” program. Recipients get interview training and in some cases, a ride to the mall where they’re coached on asking for job applications
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 19:52:16 +0000
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