My grocery store today:

[Texasgal]

While at the grocery store today, I noticed they have started the annual "fall" food drive. I donated a few cans and will continue. If you are able make sure to donate for the less fortunate! My grocer has a huge box right at the exit!

I put "fall" in because it's still HOT down heah! LOL! :)

[Curmudgeoness]

1. I wholeheartedly agree with donating, if you can,

to feed the less fortunate. However, I never give food, I give money. Food banks can buy so much more food with that same amount of money you spent on the retail price of those canned goods. There is a reason that there are huge bins at grocery stores---they are making money on these products that are donated. Make your contribution go further and donate cash.

[xmas74]

3. I usually donate money

except at Christmas, when I donate both. I receive turkeys from two different places I work for and always donate one to the pantry. And our local Christmas store isn't affiliated with the pantry. They ask for families or individuals to take a grocery list and fill a paper bag with what's on the list for a holiday dinner-the amount depends on the size of family you are shopping for.

We also donate birthday packages, with cake, icing, candles, hats, and filled goodie bags for our birthdays. The rest of the year is either money or surplus produce from the garden.

[xmas74]

2. We've had a few already at the local high school and college

football games. They'll be asking for people to donate bags for the Christmas store soon.

[Rabblevox]

4. I worked for years for an organization that fed the hungry. Here's a tip...

In November and December most "food" organizations get completely overwhelmed with donations of food, gloves, socks, etc. (and off-topic, can one be "whelmed"?) Sometimes we were been so buried with donations in Nov/Dec. that we just had to put stuff out on the street.

During the run-up on the holiday season, please consider just giving cash if you can, in February and March, organizations will be incredibly grateful for your food donations again.

October, November, and December?

Not so much.

word.

[rhett o rick]

6. I volunteer at a food bank. They can get more food if you donate money.

They get special deals on food purchases, so you get more for your money if you donate cash.

[anamandujano]

5. Sometimes they have coupons at the checkout,

usually in $1, $3 and $5 amounts. You can detach them from their little pads and put it on the line with your groceries. I am always so grateful to be at the checkout with food that I donate almost every time I am there.

Last year I put each receipt I brought home under a small Christmas figurine on one of my bookshelves. Small offerings with great emotional rewards.