Investing In Food Rescue And Innovative Food Sources
Your gift of cash ensures ongoing impact by helping your local food bank invest in food rescue efforts. Grocery stores and restaurants are incredible partners, often donating large quantities of items that they cant sell. However, these food donations need to be picked up and distributed quickly. Your cash donations help fill food rescue trucks with gas, maintain equipment, and recruit volunteer drivers to aid in food rescue efforts which will decrease food waste and deliver more food to the neighbours who need it the most.
Many food banks are also investing in farms, growing towers, or community gardens to help source food through sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions. Only with the support of financial donations will food banks across the country be able to continue this innovation.
What Is A Food Bank
Food banks are community organisations that can help people who struggle to afford to buy enough food to eat. The products available in food banks consist of basic items that people need to live, most of which are given to the charities by members of the public or purchased by the organisations with money raised through fundraising activities, donated by business and the public or gained through funding initiatives such as the National Lottery Good Causes .
Resources and finances are always limited, and many food banks are unable to support people long-term often these food banks provide a limited number of emergency food parcels to people experiencing a short-term food crisis.
It is not just food that is available though, other essential items are also available, for example:
- Soap.
- Nappies.
- Baby wipes.
A few food banks offer frozen foods and even pet food, as well as seasonal items like Easter eggs and Christmas puddings, depending on the donations they receive. Some food banks offer hot meals and advice drop-in sessions.
About Our Growing2feed Campaign
This campaign provides the necessary funding for our operation to move to a much larger distribution center. The new facility will allow Blessings of Hope to reach millions of low-income families with food. In the first five years of operation, we estimate the expansion will enable us to donate over 100 million meals.
When you donate money to this campaign, youll help us store five times the amount of food as our current location. It will also allow us to help supply food to third-world countries and disaster relief organizations. The funds will also let us put more monetary donations towards food, instead of building space and rent. Support our Growing2Feed Capital Campaign today and make all of these blessings possible for those in need.
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Is It Better To Give Food Or Money
Donations are a lifeline for us, so absolutely, if you can donate at your local supermarket or to your local food bank, or put in place a doorstep collection point, its always great, says Emma Revie from the Trussell Trust. She added that “tinned meat, fish and vegetables and UHT milk are always gratefully received.
If you want to give food, you can drop it off at your local food bank or at a donation point in supermarkets across the country. The Trussel Trust advises checking with your local food bank before donating to see what supplies they currently need.
Why Food Banks Need Financial Donations Too
The answer is that your food donation is definitely helpful, but you shouldnt forget about giving cash as well . We could not distribute the amount of food that we do to the communities that we do without raising food from community members, says Ryan Noble, executive director of North York Harvest Food Bank in Toronto. Thats because the cost of purchasing the food their users need far exceeds their operating budget from donations.
But canned goods are not enough. Noble says food banks like North York Harvest desperately need financial donations too, for several reasons. The first is to pay staff to run the operation. Theres a whole infrastructure thats required to make sure, beyond just receiving the donation, that food is safely processed and distributed into our community, he says. Money is also a good donation option because the vast amount of food donations arrive between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and having cash on hand helps them buy food during the remaining months, since people are hungry year-round. It also helps them buy supplies to meet specific clients needs, such as culturally appropriate foods. In addition, food banks are able to look for discounts and purchase food at wholesale, which means they are able to get more out of that dollar than a person shopping retail probably could.
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Consider Spacing Out Your Food Bank Donation
If you choose to go the financial donation route, do think about spreading out the payments. Its fantastic when people participate in a holiday food drive. But it would be even more fantastic if people could think, whats could I do every month, or every quarter? says Noble. Nikkel agrees. People arent just hungry during the holiday time. We often only think about it during the holiday time, but food access can be a challenge all year round. So if youre donating, maybe instead of lumping it all in one lump sum, think about becoming a monthly donor. These regular financial donations are particularly helpful for smaller organizations who may have cash-flow issues money they can count on throughout the year makes a big difference.
Should You Give Your Food Bank Cash Or Cans
It’s part of the reasoning behind the argument that cash may be a more effective donation than the dozen mismatched cans of beans and tuna collecting dust in your pantry.
As of 2016, about 850,000 Canadians were relying on food banks to survive, a number that Food Banks Canada CEO Chris Hatch said is “stubbornly high.”
In New Brunswick, more than 20,680 people rely on the province’s 61 food banks.
Hatch said he’s seen donation trends flip-flop between cash and cans, but money offers food banks the most flexibility and value.
“They can buy food that they need or to pay the rent or to pay some of their expenses, fuel for their trucks for example,” he said.
“I think if push came to shove, they would choose funding over food.”
Buying in bulk with donated money can also be a more efficient way to get food on the tables of families who need it. Food donated by the public needs to be sorted, inventoried and checked for damage and expiration dates, which can take more time.
In Oromocto, Buckley tracks down deals and haggles with suppliers, while volunteers organize the food people bring in.
The Oromocto Food Bank serves 600 to 700 people a month. Children make up 42 per cent of its clients.
Buckley said cash is the most useful donation, but she understands holiday donor fatigue can make people want to donate an actual item rather than money.
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Food Banks Amidst The Coronavirus Pandemic
In todays crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the need for food banks has been taken to unprecedented levels.
The International Labour Organization estimated that the number oflost jobs due to COVID-19 could climb to nearly 25 million.
- Many employees have been put on unpaid leave, causing additional financial hardship for food-insecure families.
- Measures intending to reduce virus transmission are leaving seniors and immunocompromised people relying on expensive and limited grocery delivery services.
- Disrupted supply chains and panic-buying and hoarding make it even more difficult to get food to those who need it most.
This, combined with chronic hunger and poverty, is driving record-high demand for food bank services.
Food banking systems capture surplus food and deliver it to the people who need it most, engaging all sectors of society in the process. Food banks acquire donated food and make it available to those in need through an established network of community agencies.
A large number of individuals depend on food banks for sustenance. Feeding America network of food banks provides service to 46.5 million people in need across the United States.
Before the coronavirus, 821 million people around the globe were considered food insecure. In just a few months, according to Bloomberg, that number could more than double.
In a survey conducted by The Global FoodBanking Network across 39 countries found that there is:
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 can’t afford them at this time of year are welcome.
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The Most Effective Way To Give This Holiday Season
The coronavirus pandemic has left more than 11 million Americans out of work, and 50 million people in the U.S., including 17 million children, are projected to experience food insecurity this year. Demand on food banks is up 60%, and millions will be hungry at Thanksgiving.
Canned food drives are probably popping up in your neighborhood this time of year, which got us thinking: whats the best way to help?
If You Donate Food Be Selective
When deciding to donate money or food to a food bank, if you still choose to donate food, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Be selective as to what you contribute. Instead of giving an old can of corned beef, buy foods with meals in mind. Fresh ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes would go great with a taco kit. Purchase beans, ground beef, chili sauce, and canned tomatoes for chili.
- Instead of buying flats of the same canned item, check out the food banks website and see what items they urgently need and buy those. Frequently, food banks need specific things and post a list on their website with the information. You can also call the food banks for this information.
- Also, be selective as to when you donate. Many organizations hold food drives during the holiday months, leaving an even more significant need during the spring and summer months. Consider donating food during these slower times to help food banks distribute food consistently year-round for those in need.
Additionally, consider volunteering with us to help lower overhead costs associated with sorting and handling the food donations.
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Keep The Tradition Alive
Even knowing financial donations are far more effective, punching in your credit card number online might not provide the warm fuzzy feeling donating physical goods does.
Feeling that warm glow that can come from very concrete and sort of tangible volunteerism, dont trade that off for impact, Rosqueta said. You can still get that feeling it just requires a bit more creativity.
For example, Rosqueta said, a church that did canned food drives changed it up a bit. Instead of cans of food, they collected cans with small monetary donations during their Christmas Eve service. The community got to keep its tradition, and feel connected, while making a much greater impact.
And while donating cash is always effective, donation drives can still be a good way to help those in need. The key is to partner with a nonprofit that has capacity to manage those donations well and has the ability to distribute the donations to the people who need them. Drives can be a great way to mobilize when theyre specific.
In addition to filling a real need, it can raise awareness of that need in a community, Rosqueta said. It can bring people together in a really nice way, and thats something that you dont always get when youre just writing a check.
Make A Financial Donation
Financial donations allow us to purchase the type of food we need, when we need it. Every amount big or small makes a difference! Every dollar you donate supports people in your community.
Cheques can also be sent by mail to:
Cambridge Food Bank,54 Ainslie Street South,Cambridge, ON Canada N1R 3K3
As a registered Canadian charity, you will receive a receipt for income tax purposes for your donation.
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Donate Money Instead Of Food: Five Reasons Why
The holidays are here and it seems like food drives are popping up everywhere. While its great to see the food drive donation pile get bigger and bigger, it may not make as big of an impact as you think.
While we appreciate all the help we get, consider making a monetary donation instead. Here are five reasons why donating money over food helps feed more families in need:
1. We can turn your monetary donations into more meals
The Food Bank partners with major retailers, manufacturers and farmers to get the most bang for your buck. You might be able to buy a few non-perishable goods with $10 at your local retail store, but thanks to our retail relationships and bulk purchasing power, we can turn a $10 donation into 40 meals.
2. This holiday season your donation will be matched!
When you make a monetary donation through December 31, your gift will be doubled by the Beaumont Foundation and a generous Austin family. That means your $10 donation will make twice the impact, providing not just 40, but 80 meals!
3. We can distribute food to families even faster
When canned food drive donations arrive at the Food Bank, it can take some time before the food is distributed to families in need. Food donations must first be inspected and sorted by volunteers before they can leave our warehouse. With monetary donations, we can buy food that is already packed, palletized and ready to leave our warehouse immediately.
4. Monetary donations help provide a variety of foods
Donating Food To A Food Bank Consider Cash Instead Of Canned Goods
With 38 million people in the U.S. facing hunger, donating your extra or purchased dry and canned goods might seem like the best way to help your neighbors in need. But, the best way to support your local food bank is actually through donating money.
Here are four reasons why donating money over food helps more families in need:
We can turn a donated dollar into more meals
Rather than paying retail prices, our network of food banks works with major manufacturers, retailers, and farmers to secure healthy food. This means that when you donate a dollar, youre able to put more meals on the tables of families than if you donated food you’d purchased at the store.
And food banks use donated funds to help cover the cost of picking up the food from donors and bringing it to their warehouses. With supply chain disruptions and transportation costs rising, cash donations can make a big difference.
Donations build healthier communities
Canned goods and dry food items like pasta and rice are a vital part of our food banks and pantriesbut no one can live healthy lives on non-perishable items alone. Providing communities with meals isnt just about providing food, but about providing healthy food to all of our communities. We work to keep our network food banks and pantries stocked with more fresh fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean proteins. These perishable items cant be directly donated through food drives but are vital for healthy lives.
We use funds to combat food waste
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Your Dollars Contribute To Higher Purchasing Power
When you donate cash, your local food bank is able to purchase food in large quantities at wholesale rates less than what you pay in the grocery store . We spend time researching and negotiating with distributors to find the best deal on canned fruits, veggies, and protein to ensure we get the best value per dollar spent.
Think about how much it costs you to purchase enough food for a meal in a grocery store. Or even how much it costs to purchase five cans of beans to donate to your local food bank. With our purchasing power combined with industry food donations, every $1 you donate provides food for two whole meals to feed a hungry neighbour in need.
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With the coronavirus pandemic crisis well underway, were all reminded of the essential role that food banks play in our communities.
Food banks feed some46.5 million people in need across the United States alone, including 12 million kids and 7 million seniors.
Food banks often act as food storage and distribution depots for smaller front line agencies. They capture and collect surplus or donated food and deliver it to the people who need it most.
In essence, food banks acquire donated food, much of which would otherwise be wasted. They acquire it from farms, manufacturers, distributors, retail stores, consumers, and other sources, making it available to those in need through an established network of community agencies.
At the moment, food banks across the United States and worldwide are squeezed between short supplies and surging demand from needy families as the coronavirus pandemic has put more than 26 million out of work in America alone.
In New York, more than a third of the citys food banks have closed for lack of supplies, donations, or volunteers, who are harder to recruit because of infection fears, according to the New York Mission Society. In San Diego, a local food bank waits on a $1 million order it placed weeks ago. Chicago and Houston food banks say they are nearly out of staples.
Yet, a lot of food is being wasted across farms, grocery stores, and shut down restaurants.
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