Donate Furniture To Charity
The last time I moved I was tasked with getting rid of about 90% of my furniture. This is no small feat, especially if youre concerned about waste. I started the process early, by listing each item I was wanting to give away on a site called Zealous Good, which allows local charities to scan listed items and make a request if theres something theyd like. I ended up donating my window air conditioning unit to an organization that provides heating and cooling for low-income seniors, and my rugs to an organization that helps set up housing for homeless individuals. Both organizations sent a representative right to my apartment to pick the items up, meaning I had to do very little on my part.
For everything else, I used a local resale charity that was able to come to my house with a moving van and pick out what they wanted. No matter where you live, you can likely find organizations that will do this. Heres where to look:
How To Find A Pet Food Donation Center Near You
If you have unwanted or unopened pet food, there are a few options for donation. Many pet stores, such as Petco and Petsmart, have food donation bins in the store. If there is not a food donation bin at your local pet store, you can contact your nearest animal shelter to see if they accept donations of pet food. You can also look online for pet food pantries in your area.
For Some Reason The Rexrocks Team Is Winning Big
For reasons I cant fully explain, the majority of donors thus far have gone for praise. As of Friday, the RexRocks team had raised nearly 40 times what the RexStinks team had raised. Thats embarrassing.
Theres no scenario in which Im 40 times better than anything. Heck, Id be lucky if I were two times better than anything.
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Your Donations Make A Difference
You may not see the direct effects, but your donations make a huge difference to the many people who use or rely on food banks or soup kitchens.
If you donate at your local supermarket to a Trussell Trust food bank, your donations will form part of a food parcel that provides at-risk families with enough food for at least three days of healthy, balanced meals.
These parcels change peoples lives. Your act of kindness greatly impacts peoples futures. In addition, if you buy products by a brand that supports a social cause such as us at Integritty Foods who promise to give a soup to a person in need for every soup we sell you can have an even greater effect.
Best Foods For Food Donation
Danice Tatosian, Director of Community Nutrition at Food Bank For New York City, told TODAY that what foods to donate or avoid donating is a topic that arises frequently.
Protein and dairy are always a really great option, she explained. Fish, shelf-stable dairy, vegetables and fruit. Fresh is great, but dried fruit and canned vegetables that are low in sodium are good.
“Another category is culturally significant food. There is such a huge range of communities with specific needs, so kosher, halal and vegan foods are great to get.
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Items We Need The Most
If you are looking for ideas of what to donate, below is a list of items that are often requested. Please no glass containers, perishable items, baby food or formula or home-canned foods.
- Meat and high-protein: Canned items, including meat, tuna, ham, salmon, stew, chili, spam, peanut butter, soups, beans
- Canned fruits and vegetables
- Carbohydrates: Boxed cereal, oatmeal, flour, instant mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, rice
- Personal hygiene: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, bar soap, deodorant, shaving products, travel size toiletries
- Baby products: Diapers, baby wipes
- Paper cleaning items: Toilet paper, paper towels, plastic storage bags , disposable eating utensils
- Allergy-friendly products: Soy, almond and rice milk, gluten-free canned/boxed soups, rice pasta, gluten-free mac and cheese, rice cereal, alternative nut butters
- Bulk cooking items: oils, spices, acids, processed dough, condiments & flour
- Office furniture
- Dairy bladders consisting of milk, ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, cheese
- Food that hasnt been maintained per cold chain compliance
- Opened or repackaged food items
- Flammable materials
- Food items without ingredient labels
What To Donate To A Food Bank And What To Avoid
So, youre ready to donate food to your local food bank. Thats great! Whether youre starting a food drive or just planning to grab a few extra items for donation while out grocery shopping, there are a couple of things you should know about what you can donate and what food banks wont accept.
What food you CAN donate to your local food bank:
This part is pretty easy. Food banks accept dry and canned food donations. What does that mean? Basically, any food that is shelf-stable or nonperishable you can keep it in your pantry and it wont go bad. And remember, only donate food that hasnt reached its sell-by date yet. Specifically, food banks often need items like:
Thats definitely not an exhaustive list but it covers a lot of what food banks regularly need. Additionally, some food banks accept personal care and household items, since many families struggle to afford these items and they arent covered by other food assistance programs like SNAP.
If youre still stumped about what to donate, just look in your own pantry. Families struggling with hunger often cant afford the staples that we normally have stocked at home. So, check your pantry out and go from there. Even specialty foods like olive oil, dressings, or marinades can be helpful if they dont need to be refrigerated.
What not to donate to a food bank
Where can I donate food near me?
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What Are The Best Canned Food Items To Donate And Other Faqs
What are the guidelines for canned food donations?
Food drive donations must be:
- In the original container with the original product label
- Within the Use by or Best if used by dates
- Free of damage, stains or moisture
- Standard retail food products
PLEASE NOTE: Boxes used to collect and store food must NOT have been used previously to store raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, produce or chemicals. Please store products in a cool, dry and clean area.
What are the best canned food items to donate?
The items most needed by our network of 700 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters are:
Are there any items you will not accept?
The Food Depository is not able to accept the following types of food donations:
- Items that have been opened or partially used including cans, bottles and dry goods
- Products not in their original packaging
- Products missing ingredient information labels
- Homemade or home-canned foods
- Products that have become contaminated
- Alcoholic beverages or energy drinks of any kind
Additionally, the Food Depository is not able to accept the following types of non-food items, though you may contact your local food pantry to ask if they are currently accepting these items:
How can I promote my food drive?
If you would like to use the Food Depositorys logo on any materials you create, please email . Materials must be reviewed and approved by the Food Depository before being distributed.
Do I have to put my food donations in a certain type of box?
Ideas Of Items To Donate
- Canned fish like tuna or salmon in water
- Canned beans, chickpeas, and lentils
- Dry beans, chickpeas, and lentils
- Canned meat like chicken or turkey
- Peanut butter or other nut butters
Many food banks do have adequate refrigeration for fresh or frozen donations. These include foods such as:
- Fresh or frozen vegetables
- Lower-fat yogurt
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Needs Are Up Donations Down At Local Food Bank
COLUMBIA, Mo.
The holiday season is supposed to be filled with joy.
However, for families struggling to make ends meet, that joy can quickly be replaced with stress.
This year, the Foodbank for Central and Northeast Missouri says the need for food in our area is growing. At the same time, the amount of donations is struggling for a number of reasons.
The Foodbank is serving around 15,000 more people each month than it was this time last year, according to Katie Adkins, who is a spokesperson at the Foodbank for Central and Northeast Missouri.
“We know that need is significant,” Adkins said. “It doesn’t seem to be stopping either.”
In post-pandemic times with record inflation, the Foodbank is seeing many first-time families this year.
“It’s one accident, the loss of a job, your paycheck not coming in on time… It’s really easy to cut into your food budget and cut that food budget back when you can’t have that wiggle room with other bills like your rent or electricity,” Adkins said.
These circumstances have also posed a challenge for those who want to donate.
There are some encouraging numbers. The number of people making donations to the Foodbank is up this year by 6%. However, the average donation is down 35%.
“It may be smaller, but they are happy to give it to their neighbors in need and I think that’s such an amazing thing to recognize about our community,” Adkins said.
Even just a $1 donation can provide four meals for a family in need.
Which Items Should You Not Donate To A Food Bank
There are certain items that you shouldnt donate. These include:
- Delicate items / items with glass packaging: these items can break or spill in transit.
- Items requiring additional equipment to open: for example cans that can only be opened by a can opener as not everyone has access to this equipment. Donate easy-open cans instead.
- Alcohol: though you might think youre helping a family unwind on a Friday evening by donating a bottle of wine, most food banks cannot accept alcoholic donations. This includes not just alcoholic drinks, but also any foods or puddings that have alcohol in them, such as Christmas puddings and some mince pies.
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Donate Food & Essentials
The Food Bank for Larimer County accepts donated food, including shelf-stable items such as canned and dry goods as well as dairy, meat, bakery items and fresh produce. We adhere to strict food safety guidelines for the food that we accept. Our staff is trained to pay close attention to date codes, especially with refrigerated products. Most of the dates on the food we distribute are not expiration dates they are best if used by or sell by dates. This means the product is wholesome beyond the date on the product.
In addition to food items, we also gladly accept non-food items like diapers, baby wipes, deodorant, toothpaste, menstrual products and other essentials that help our clients live healthy and rewarding lives.
How Do Food Banks Work
Food banks are designed to help people in the community who may be struggling to pay for food. Schools, churches and community centres often set up collections for food banks or donation schemes and so do big supermarkets and charities, collecting essential items for people who cant afford them.
People usually need a referral from a support service or professional, such as Citizens Advice, your childrens school or a charity. If youre not sure where to get a referral, your local council should be able to advise you and help you find a food bank.
Before being referred people will be asked about their needs, their income and how many people they are supporting so advisers know if they should be referred for enough food to feed a family. They then receive a voucher they can exchange for three days worth of emergency food at a local food bank.
When they have found a food bank and go to collect their food they will often be offered a cup of tea and a chat to see if there is any other help they may need. Food banks exist to meet the immediate need for food but many volunteers try to connect people in need with other support services.
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Food We Cannot Accept
We want to ensure all your donations make it to the tables of those in need, so to prevent waste please avoid donating the following:
- Over the counter medications
- Home baked-goods or food prepared in a home environment
- Personally wrapped meats
- Opened food items, or food not in its original container/packaging
- Candy and snack food items in packaging that can easily be tampered with or contaminated
When donating snacks please keep in mind that a nutritious treat is always preferred.
*The above standards are put in place by Food Banks Canada, and are to be utilized by all food banks and food programs.
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What Types Of Pet Food Can Be Donated
There are many types of pet food that can be donated to your local animal shelter. The most common type of pet food donated is unopened cans or bags of dog or cat food. Other types of pet food that can be donated include:
-Canned or dry food for puppies, kittens, or senior dogs and cats-Canned or dry food for small mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, etc.-Canned or dry food for birds-Specialty pet foods such as those for pets with allergies or other medical conditions
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How To Start A Pet Food Donation Drive
There are a number of ways you can get involved in donating pet food to those in need. One way is to start your own pet food donation drive. This is a great way to get friends, family, and members of your community involved in giving back.
Here are a few tips on how to get started:
1. Choose a pet food bank or rescue group to donate to. Do some research to find an organization that aligns with your values and that you feel good about supporting.
2. Spread the word about your donation drive. Use social media, flyers, and word-of-mouth to let people know about your drive and how they can help.
3. Collect donations of pet food. Ask local businesses if they would be willing to donate items or gift cards that can be used to purchase pet food. You can also hold collection events at schools, churches, or community centers.
4. Deliver the donations to the chosen organization. Be sure to let them know how much food was collected and who organized the drive!