We’ve probably all done it. The kids bring home a flyer that there will be a canned food drive at school, and we rummage through the pantry for something we won’t use or that we have multiples of. It turns out that a lot of what gets donated isn’t even able to be used because we don’t think about what barriers exist to those in different living conditions.
While it is important to support our local food banks and food drives, we can have a much greater impact and reduce food waste when we put a little extra thought into the donation.
While it is important to support our local food banks and food drives, we can have a much greater impact and reduce food waste when we put a little extra thought into the donation.
For instance, everyone donates boxed Macaroni and Cheese. However, many recipients are unable to cook it because it needs milk and butter to make it. These ingredients are hard to get from regular food banks. Also, they rarely get access to fresh meat, so hamburger helper donations aren’t useful. Another issue if that people tend to donate the same things. No one wants to eat spaghetti several nights in a row. To make sure our food donations actually help those in need and don't go to waste, we can do two things: steer away from the commonly donated items and give the most-needed items.
Most Donated Food Items
- Spaghetti noodles
- Pasta sauce
- Rice-a-Roni
- Hamburger Helper
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- Cereal
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15 Things to Donate
- Boxed milk
- Canned vegetables with pop tops or a can opener (don’t assume they have one
- Oil to cook a lot of things that get donate such as Rice-a-Roni
- Spices, including salt and pepper
- Tea bags and coffee
- Sugar
- Flour
- Tuna and crackers kits
- Butter or margarine
- Eggs
- Bread
- Cake mixes and frosting
- Dishwashing detergent
- Feminine napkins
- Paper products
They get lots of peanut butter and jelly donations but usually not the sandwich bread to go with it.
Local Food Pantries
Helping in His Name Ministries https://helpinginhisname.org//p>
Southern Crescent Resource Ministries http://www.southerncrescentresourceministry.com/home.html
Locust Grove United Methodist Church https://www.locustgroveumc.org/outreach
Ambassadors Life Center – Food Pantry https://www.ambassadorslc.org/
Abigail’s Pantry https://bethel-umc.com/food-options/
Donating to a local food pantry can be a great lesson on serving others. Spend some time discussing why you are making a donation and have them brainstorm what they would like to give. Discuss how each item would be helpful to a family who needs food and what else may be needed for the family to eat the item. You can also discuss nutrition and what foods would be most healthy to give. Have you kids pack the box or bag and go with you to the drop off location.
So, join me in making a change the next time you get a flyer from school or church announcing a food drive and choose foods the would benefit those in need the most.
