Please Support Your Local Foodbanks - Time to bring this up again.

[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.

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.

Please support your local foodbank.

[Tanuki]

1. K & R

Also, with winter approaching, please think of donating warm clothes to your local charities! Coats, hats, scarves, gloves, warm socks, anything! And food, of course! Things like peanut butter, canned meats, etc. that don't need to be cooked are especially needed for the homeless and others who do not have functional cooking facilities. Good advice to ask the food bank what the greatest needs are locally, though.

[rhett o rick]

2. Canned meals like stew, pork and beans, and ravioli type meals with pull top lids are

good for the homeless. And canned meats like tuna, spam, and corned beef.

[Sheri]

3. +1 nt

[frylock]

4. knr and thanks for posting..

a group of us from work volunteer once a month at the local FB. it's incredibly fulfilling, and you meet some of the nicest people there.

[rhett o rick]

14. I agree. At our food bank most of the work is done by volunteers, most of whom are

clients of the food bank.

[ChazII]

5. Thank you for this reminded

I volunteer at two different local food banks that are run by small churches. The first bank I volunteer for is like one that is described above. It's main focus is on providing clothing and household items that are given away for free. Hygiene bags are also handed out to the homeless. So, if the reader is able to purchase small items like deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, etc... that would be great. The cans that are pop top are also appreciated as they are easier to open than the ones that require a manual can opener.

The second one I volunteer focuses on distributing food. Peanut butter is always welcome. As the OP stated the food banks are often able to purchase food at a better price so cash is welcomed.

I volunteer one day a week at each of these banks and the amount people we help is growing.

[rhett o rick]

9. Dont forget to hit up your local business people for donations. For example,

I get pet food that the pet food store thinks is dated. Also, I get toothbrushes and the travel toothpastes from a couple of local dentists. If your food banks dont have a website, maybe you can help them with that. We get some donations via our website. And we give out information re. local soup kitchens, emergency storm sheltering, etc.

[Phentex]

6. Thank you for the tips and for being positive!

[rhett o rick]

10. Really, it's my pleasure.

[Wilms]

7. ^

[bemildred]

8. Just did. nt

[Le Taz Hot]

11. I put this in another thread already

but I've been making it a habit to try and buy 5 extra non-perishable items every time I do a "big" shopping (about once a week). Then about once a month I drive it down to the food bank. It's not much but we all do what we can and it does add up.

[rhett o rick]

12. I will buy a small case of canned food when I shop at Costco and keep it until near

expiration date for emergency purposes. Then I rotate it to the food bank and replace it on my shelf.

[rhett o rick]

13. Kick for the Sunday crowd.