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When my kids were little, before I went back to work, I volunteered weekly at our local food pantry. Some things I learned:
1. Families didn’t have to show proof of income, only proof of residency in our county to receive service. We accepted probation papers once. Anything.
1. Families didn’t have to show proof of income, only proof of residency in our county to receive service. We accepted probation papers once. Anything.
2. Canned foods are the most donated item yet are the LEAST preferred. Why? First, families receive X pounds of food per person in the family. Cans are heavy and eat up a lot of that weight. And canned foods are cheap- they aren’t what people have trouble affording.
If you only get 60 pounds of food to last 2 weeks (families could access the pantry twice a month), you don’t want 20 lbs of that to be canned veggies that aren’t nutritionally dense and cost maybe $10 total. Also, they’re heavy to transport if you don’t have a vehicle.
3. So what did people MOST need?
Meat
Dry beans and rice that could stretch many meals
Frozen veggies or freezer meals
Cooking oil
Most of all? Formula. Baby food. Diapers and wipes. Hygiene products. Shampoo, soap, tampons, toothpaste- all necessary, and not cheap.
Meat
Dry beans and rice that could stretch many meals
Frozen veggies or freezer meals
Cooking oil
Most of all? Formula. Baby food. Diapers and wipes. Hygiene products. Shampoo, soap, tampons, toothpaste- all necessary, and not cheap.
4. And also- “normal” foods for their kids. I was perhaps the very worst volunteer- I took forever packing orders because if I saw kids in the family I’d hunt high and low for foods they’d want and give too much. Poptarts, cereals, name brand snacks. What my kids like to eat.
5. Peanut butter is seen as a good item to donate because it’s shelf stable, a source of protein & fat. This is true, but it’s also a distinctly U.S. product. Many families from other countries did NOT like it or want it! (This is fine. People can accept help & have preferences.)
6. Food pantries have working relationships with local stores and restaurants and distributors. We would get many prepared items from grocery stores that were still good but had a “sell by” date after which stores had to remove them. Chipotle would donate bags of rice and meat-
so often our last families of the night would be sent home with huge quantities of rice and chicken Chipotle had cooked and didn’t serve before closing. Local farmers would donate fresh produce which was always freely provided and didn’t count against allotted weight.
7. Most of all, because of these relationships, food pantries can stretch their dollars further and know what THEIR customer base most needs and likes and buy that. My local food pantry receives .96 of every dollar donated. Donating money is VERY VALUABLE especially right now.
The food pantry I volunteered at and still donate to sent out an update. They’re serving out of parking lots 6 days a week. Over 13,000 unemployment claims have been filed in our county. 1/3 of families served last week are first time customers. There is so much need.
If you feel compelled to help right now, these can all be things to keep in mind. If you have a stash of toiletries or hygiene items or diapers, those are so needed and appreciated. If you donate even a little, that money goes FAR.
Love, the worst food pantry volunteer ever
Love, the worst food pantry volunteer ever
