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. 1.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. 2.Canned vegetables: Everyone donates green beans. Instead, give potatoes, carrots, spinach, peas or any other veggies your family likes. 3.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.) 4.Boxes of rice (bags can tear) 5.Low-sugar cereal like plain Cheerios or Raisin Bran 6.Peanut butter 7.Instant oatmeal, instant grits 8.Cans of beans 9.Pasta, pasta sauce 10.Biscuit mix, or any mix you only add water to 11.Cans, cartons or boxes of powered and evaporated milk 12.Snack items for kids to take to school: juice boxes, applesauce containers, granola bars 13.Diapers in sizes above newborn, plus wipes 14.Toiletries: toothbrushes, soap, toothpaste, lotion, shampoo & conditioner, Chapstick (consider someone living outside this time of year) 15.Feminine hygiene products: unscented pads will be most universally used, not tampons 16.Spices like cinnamon, oregano, basil, salt, pepper 17.Sliced bread. It’s got a long shelf life but always goes immediately. 18.Bags of apples or potatoes. Ditto. 19.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. 20.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.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 12:15:27 +0000
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