Support Your Local Foodbanks and Soup Kitchens

[rhett o rick]

Local foodbanks are struggling. In tight economic times, donations to foodbanks tend to dry up. And this is the time when help is most needed as more and more people are relying on local foodbanks for help.

Please donate non-perishable foods. Even if the cans are dented or past expiration date they may still be good. Let the foodbank make the decision.

Donating cash is the best because foodbanks usually can buy about three times more food for the dollar than you can.

It’s also important to donate time. At our foodbank about 75% of the labor is volunteered.

Some foodbanks take clothes and household items that they give away for free.

Foodbanks usually need simple things like boxes, plastic grocery bags, and glass jars. Ask your local foodbank what they need.

Some people are wary that their donations are distributed fairly and efficiently. Volunteer to be a member of the Board of Directors and influence the operations of your local foodbank.

Also help the homeless. Our foodbank works with local soup kitchens and street ministries. Here are some specific items the homeless value:

Hats*, socks*, coats, rain ponchos*, space blankets*, tarps, tents, sterno, canned meats and meals that can be opened w/o opener, bottled water, hand sanitizer and first aid items, granola bars*, bus tokens, grocery gift cards, etc.

*Some items can be purchased in quantity at low prices online like at smile.Amazon. Note, if you use smile.amazon.com, they will donate to your designated charity (foodbank?).

Please support your local foodbank.

[In_The_Wind]

1. Kicked and recommended

[Paella]

2. Give

not just because we have so much more than we need.
Don't forget the animals. Shelters are overflowing.

[rhett o rick]

5. Agree, don't forget the animal shelters. Also, donate pet food at the foodbank.

I get a local pet food store to donate pet food. They often have bags that are getting old that they gladly donate.

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. rec!

[theHandpuppet]

4. A hearty K&R

[Curmudgeoness]

6. I wholeheartedly agree.

I also will reiterate that monetary donations to food banks will go so much further than if you spend that money paying retail prices at the store. Personally, I never donate items, it is always money because each dollar goes so much further.

As a volunteer at a food bank, I would suggest that you ask your local food bank whether dented or past expiration items are accepted. We are required to throw away any item that is past the expiration date or dented. It breaks my heart to see so many items in the dumpster, and it also costs the food bank to have it all taken to the dump. We find that as much as half of the items that come in during food drives have to be tossed, I suppose because people will clean out their pantries at that time. I know that this makes no sense....I would still eat those items and I am certain that they are still good and people in need would also eat those items. But that is the law here.

[Tree-Hugger]

7. Don't forget your garden bounty

If you are up to your ears in tomatoes and zucchini, check with your local food bank as they may accept it. Summer is typically the only time of year they are able to offer fresh produce.

[rhett o rick]

8. Fresh produce is one of the hardest things to supply to those in need.

Donate your extra. Also, if you see fruit trees that aren't being harvested, ask if you can harvest for the foodbank.

[L0oniX]

9. K & R ...worked at a outdoor food line every Saturday for 5 years.

IMO everyone should do this at sometime in their life. Take your kids with you to help too ...they will learn a valuable lesson.

[rhett o rick]

10. Yes it's very rewarding. Like I mentioned, most of the work done at our foodbank is done by

volunteers, most of whom need food assistance themselves. Some interesting challenges. We have a number of South American peoples that live in the area but don't speak either English or Spanish.

[tabbycat31]

16. I did that as a child with Girl Scouts

On the first Friday of each month, we would make bagged lunches to take to the homeless (sandwiches, etc). Made an impact on me.

[bettyellen]

11. local college kids frequently do food drives in front of our grocery store

smart generous kids, does my heart good to see them helping out.

You reminded me I do need to find a better place to donate clothing than the Salvation Army. Gotta work on that.

[rhett o rick]

12. I won't donate to Goodwill but why not Salvation Army?

We also have a local hospice thrift store that I donate to.

[bettyellen]

13. they have pushed the envelope in NYC, prying into employees' private lives and refusing to give

benefits to same sex partners. (The went to court to get a waiver to break state rules- and won)
Forcing employees to proselytize. Also, pushing religion on people they help, including indoctrinating young kids. Which pisses me off. So, not my first choice. But if it helps a hospice, I can get behind that.

I love the organization Housing Works, and take them my nicer stuff occasionally but it's a PITA to commute in to Manhattan with a lot of clothing. I have been trying to find one of those ones that try to help out women preparing to enter the workforce, but it seems most of them do "drives" and it's been hard to coordinate.

[rhett o rick]

17. Thanks to all the responses. I wasn't aware. nm

[theHandpuppet]

14. The SA is rabidly anti-gay and discriminatory

I have found other organizations that need donations without the dose of hate.

[tabbycat31]

15. Salvation Army is notoriously anti LGBT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zinnia-jones/the-salvation-armys-histo_b_4422938.html