Is It Better To Donate Food Or Money To A Food Bank
Tatosian told TODAY that, while all donations are helpful, monetary donations allow food banks to stretch a dollar.
We have a really great purchasing power, so money would go a bit further, because we can purchase in a wide range at cost, she said.
Regardless of donation, both Tatosian and Foster acknowledged a feeling of gratitude for people wanting to give.
Were very appreciative of donations, Tatosian said. Its amazing that people want to donate.
Related:
What To Donate To A Food Bank
While food banks always provide a minimum of three days worth of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable tinned and dried foods, what you should donate to a food bank differs depending on where you are and what food bank youre donating to.
Typically food banks are looking for donations of food products from supermarkets, such as:
Lots of food banks will also offer essential non-food items , such as toiletries and hygiene products.
However, because the supplies to food banks differ between areas, its important to check with your local food bank what kind of supplies theyre most in need of at the moment. An easy way to do this is to use the search box at the bottom of this page , underneath Items to donate. It will tell you the products and food items that your local food bank is in need of at the moment.
If you are in the position to donate to a local food bank, now is the time to do so, with more people needing their services every day.
Also Check: Food Bank Central And Eastern Nc
What Should I Donate
According to The Trussell Trust, which supports a network of more than 1,200 food banks around two thirds of all the food banks in the UK different food banks are short of different items. The charity has partnered with Give Food to compile a list of which essentials are needed where, accessible via a handy search tool on the website.
Were encouraging people to pop in their postcode to bring up the details of their local food bank, their most needed items as well as a list of their drop-off points, a spokesperson tells The Independent.
The Camden food bank, for example, needs gluten-free pasta and non-caffeinated teas as well as the more standard tinned items.
However, there are some items that are welcome across the board, regardless of region:
- Rice pudding/custard
IFAN says its members are most in need of similar items, with the list including tinned vegetables, tinned meat and fish, pasta and pasta sauces, rice, cereal, UHT milk, biscuits and tinned soup.
However, it adds: Most food banks need more of everything at the moment.
Recommended Reading: Montgomery County Food Bank Volunteer
Don’t Miss: Community Food Bank Of Nj Hillside
Canned Tuna Or Salmon
Like most of the foods on the list, these two superstars offer high-protein, ready-to-eat nourishment. Make a sandwich with the tuna, or spread either on a bed of greens for a healthy salad. Health benefit: Both are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, a polyunsaturated fat linked to decreased risk of heart disease and stroke. Make the fish even healthier by choosing cans that say BPA-free, meaning the cans plastic lining was made without a toxic chemical that some studies suggest may lead to a higher risk of cancer and heart problems.
What Do Food Banks Need At Christmas
Festive treats are appreciated as food donations at food banks during the Christmas holidays particularly Christmas pudding, as it often comes with a long-life use by date. The Trussell Trust recommends non-alcoholic puddings.
Chocolate coins and Christmas dinner non-perishables such as tinned pies, vegetables, condiments, and gravy are all appreciated this time of year. Festive treats for those who cant afford them at this time of year are welcome.
Related features:
Recommended Reading: Eastern North Carolina Food Bank
How Can I Donate To A Local Food Bank
There are two main ways to donate to food banks, either by providing food or money.
If youâd prefer to offer cash, you can make a one-off donation or set up a direct debit.
All the major charities including the Trussel Trust and IFAN allow you to make donations via their websites, or you can donate directly to your local bank.
List Of Items Needed For Food Pantry Donations
Here’s a list of the most needed items for food pantry donations, including both food and non-food items.
During the holiday season many people begin donating to local food pantries, as well as anytime you decide to organize and declutter your pantry.
While every donation of unexpired food is appreciated, there are items that these local food pantries and banks need more than others. And the reality is that every year volunteers for these pantries go through tons of donations, and often have lists of much needed items that people just don’t donate.
When these charities don’t get the needed donations they then have to find alternative funds to provide those items to the people in need in the community.
So this list is meant to help you provide not only what you have, but to really try to make a difference this year by providing what will help people the most. While I’ve tried to be thorough this list is just a beginning of items you can donate this year to meet the needs in your community, so if you have more suggestions and ideas I would love to hear them in the comments below.
This list has two parts, including both food items, and also non-food items, since both are so important.
Read Also: East Texas Food Bank Programs
Most Needed Food To Donate To Food Pantry
Meal kits that don’t require extra ingredients.
Kits that include canned meat, canned sauce and pasta all in one box are great choices. This means the person receiving them can make them without having to purchase additional ingredients.
Pancake and muffin mix that only require water.
Special treats or easy breakfasts are much needed and appreciated, and one of the simplest is pancake or muffin mix that only requires you to add water. Mixes which require additional ingredients, such as oil or eggs, sometimes make it more difficult for a person or family to actually make the food item.
Canned soups and pasta meals.
Soups or even canned ravioli or pasta meals that don’t require anything other than a heat source to eat are excellent for those who have limited resources, including sometimes not a very well equipped kitchen. There are many places recipients of these donations may be able to heat up these types of meals, and many kids love them and it can provide a filling warm meal.
Canned meat.
Variety of canned fruits.
Statistics say that food pantries really need more canned fruit. They often get fruit cocktail and pineapple, but peaches, pears and even cherries or tropical fruit blends would be welcomed.
Fresh produce.
Fresh fruits and vegetables, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes and similar are always welcome at any food pantry and rarely donated.
Allergy friendly food options.
Basic staple pantry items.
Shelf stable milk.
Juice boxes.
Food Banks Do Hand Out Fresh Food But You Shouldnt Donate It
According to Feeding America, the three most requested items at food banks and food pantries are dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt fresh fruits and vegetables and lean proteins like frozen chicken and canned tuna. But, because fresh food needs to be refrigerated or frozen and food banks have limited space for this, they often get fixed donations from nearby grocery stores instead of taking small donations from individuals. This also makes it easier for them to make sure that fresh food has been safely stored, which helps prevent spoiled or moldy food.
You May Like: Food Banks In Canton Ohio
What Impact Means For Charitiesand For Your Donations
Some charities create a lot of change with the donations given to them. Others have almost nothing to show for the money coming from donors, says Greg Thomson, director of research at Charity Intelligence , a non-profit that helps Canadians make informed giving decisions.
Indeed, there are charities that can take a $100-donation and turn it into nearly $700 worth of value for the people it supports and society at large. For example, a charity that helps at-risk teens could provide a sizable financial benefit to the youth who use its programs , as well as to the greater community through costs savings to the public health-care and shelter systems.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are charities that destroy value, perhaps producing just $40 worth of measurable change from the same $100-donation because of spending too much in relation to the benefit they create. For example, charities that grant wishes to critically ill children often spend upwards of $25,000 per child, but the value provided to the child and their family is much lower, says Thomson.
If you wish to donate food to fight hunger, you should check what local food banks require to not burden food banks with the food items that take up a lot of space or are not required. You will find food pantry items that you should donate to food banks in this article.
Why Should You Donate To Local Food Banks
Millions of vulnerable children are losing the healthy meals they depend on as the closes schools nationwide, Davis said at the beginning of the pandemic. As of , 39 states had closed schools entirely. When you add in the districts closed in other states it means 41.6 million kids, or 4 out of 5 kids, are out of school. Even in areas where the schools were still open, many businesses were closed, which meant hourly workers who may have already been struggling to make ends meet were hit hard.
Fortunately, as of July 2022, the health risks posed by the pandemic have lessened over time. However, Davis notes that the need and the financial impact has not abated. âFamilies still face ongoing challenges due to the strained supply chain, rising food and gas prices, and skyrocketing inflation,â she says. âToday, one in six kids face hunger in the U.S.â
According to a recent Feeding America food bank survey, 80 percent of food banks across the country reported an increase or steady demand for food. Food insecurity exists everywhere, says Zuani Villarreal, the senior director of communication for Feeding America. âIt could be your classmate it could be a co-worker it could be your neighbor a fellow church goer that needs help and I think the awareness of that issue should drive people to help,â she says. For this reason, donating to food banks is more important than ever.
Dont Miss: Community Food Bank Of Nj Locations
You May Like: Food Banks In Summerville Sc
Use Social Media To Fight Hunger
You can also support food banks at the click of a button. Follow your local food bank on social media. Like their posts, comment and share them, suggestions Jeff. Hunger is often misunderstood, so the more we share information about hunger and the more we engage other people, the better. And thats something we can all do.
One more suggestion: research what resources are available and share that information with your local network. Because of the hidden nature of hunger, you might not know if a friend or neighbor is struggling with food insecurity. And, due to the pandemic, a lot of people are dealing with food insecurity for the first time and dont know where to go for help. Sharing out resources in a supportive, non-judgmental way can make a world of difference.
Limited Liability Protection For Donors
The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 encourages the donation of food and grocery products to nonprofit organizations for distribution to needy individuals. The Act exempts persons and gleaners who make good faith donations of food to nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry from liability for injuries arising from the consumption of the donated food.
Under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, the following food donation standards apply:
Persons and gleaners : Persons and gleaners, including qualified direct donors, shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently wholesome food that the person or gleaner donates in good faith to a nonprofit organization for ultimate distribution to needy individuals.
Nonprofit organizations: Nonprofit organizations shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently wholesome food that the nonprofit organization received as a donation in good faith from a person or gleaner, including a qualified direct donor, for ultimate distribution to needy individuals.
Donations of apparently wholesome food by qualified direct donors must be made in compliance with applicable state and local health, food safety, and food handling laws .
Read Also: St. Marys Food Bank Locations
Don’t Miss: Ronald Mcdonald House Food Donations
Places To Donate Food
There are food recipient organizations across the country. The following sites offer tools to help donors find nearby food banks, pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that may accept wholesome, excess food.
- Feeding America is a national network of food banks, individuals, national offices, and corporate and government partners working to combat hunger in the U.S. Use the Find Your Local Food Bank tool to locate food programs by state or zip code.
- Ample Harvest is a nationwide effort to educate, enable, and encourage gardeners to donate extra produce to local food pantries. Use their Find a Pantry tool to donate food you grow or buy.
- The Homeless Shelter Directory is a crowdsourced listing for people who want to find and donate food and/or supplies to their local shelter.
Contact Us:
List Of Food Pantry Items For Donations
If you wish to donate food to fight hunger, you should check what local food banks require to not burden food banks with the food items that take up a lot of space or are not required. You will find food pantry items that you should donate to food banks in this article.
You need to remember that food banks clients may suffer from various health issues like diabetes, so foods with high fiber or low sugar are better than processed foods. You can also start a food drive instead of donating food to a food bank. No matter which source of donation you choose, there are certain things you should keep in mind before donating anything.
Recommended Reading: Community Food Bank New Jersey
What Items Do Food Banks Need Most
Food banks mostly need long-life products that have extended use-by dates or non-perishables such as tinned vegetables and fish, biscuits, and sugar for example.
Tinned foods are often the first thing people think to donate however, other store cupboard essentials like stock cubes, condiments and spices, and jarred sauces are also welcome.
You May Like: Food Bank Free Tax Preparation 2021
What To Donate To Food Banks As Cooking Costs Rise
Life Editor at HuffPost UK
With household bills set to skyrocket in April, food banks and community hubs are already seeing the impact of the cost of living crisis.
In Cambridge officially the UKs most unequal city around 150 households already use the Abbey Food Hub each week, and demand is only expected to grow.
Amid concerns about rising fuel costs, the charitys CEO, Nicky Shepard, tells HuffPost UK that people dont want things that need to cook for a long time. Hub users will choose packets of pre-cooked rice, for example, instead of uncooked rice that takes 20 minutes to boil.
It comes after Icelands CEO Richard Walker told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that some food bank users are refusing to take raw potatoes, due to rising cooking costs.
Its worth mentioning that the people we work with have been struggling since October or before, Shepard adds. For the people were working with, theres not enough coming in to cover fuel costs now. So the increase is going to be devastating for people.
You May Like: Atlanta Community Food Bank Atlanta Ga
How Can Businesses Help Food Banks And Food Pantries
Given the increased need for financial and volunteer support due to the pandemic, businesses partners are more vital than ever in helping food banks and food pantries help their communities.
Business partners are a huge collective force for providing funds for our organization and our work, said Jeff. Without those dollars, we wouldnt be able to pay our drivers, we wouldnt be able to have our warehouse space, we wouldnt be able to afford fuel and so forth. Even though the food is all donated, we have to raise money in order to get that food where its needed most. Those dollars are so crucial for that.
Heres how businesses can help fight hunger as part of their own corporate social responsibility efforts:
- Encourage employees to volunteer. Offer paid volunteer days or coordinate employee volunteering efforts. Volunteering at a food bank can be a great team-building exercise!
- Donate funds to food banks, food pantries and other hunger relief organizations.
- Organize fundraising efforts and consider a corporate matching program to multiply the impact of employee donations.
How To Support Local Food Banks And Food Pantries
There are few things more comforting than sitting down to a good meal. Unfortunately, that experience doesnt happen often enough for the millions of Americans facing food insecurity. Luckily, each of us has the power to make a difference and it starts with supporting your local food bank or food pantry.
Ready to combat food insecurity and provide hunger relief to individuals, families and children in your local community? There are lots of different ways you can donate, volunteer, fundraise and more!
Don’t Miss: Do Food Banks Take Frozen Food