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Donate Food Thoughtfully


Silver Post Medal for All Time! 255 Posts

Donate Food Thoughtfully - Tuna Helper and other itemsYears ago, I was a director of a crisis center. We were mainly a crisis center for pregnant women, but we also did food and clothing, as moms need to eat and wear clothes too. Doing this, I went to many community meetings, were I met with those who ran the food pantry, and discovered that we had many common issues. One of those issues, was trying to give our clients items that they needed they could actually use.

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It sounds simple when you donate food to a center. You give it, they pass it on. But, the reality is, it is not that simple. Here are a few simple trips to make it easier on the center workers, and those who are receiving the food.

  1. Please don't give out dated expired food. We can't pass that on. Nothing says "your not worthy" more than giving something that needs to be thrown away.
  2. Please don't give items that are dirty, have bug or mouse droppings on them. No one wants to eat food out of a can that smells of mouse urine.
  3. Don't just give hodge podge items. Sadly, many people donate what was on sale. As a result, that week's center donations consist of 72 cans of corn, 61 cans of beans....all because the store had canned veggies on sale. Ever try to make a meal out of just canned veggies? Large city centers may not have this problem, but in small towns, its a big problem.

Instead, donate a meal. Make the items you give add up to something that a person or family can use for a meal. Suggestions may include, 2 cans of spaghetti sauce, pasta, can of olives, can of mushrooms, a can of fruit, and can of veggies, and a desert. If items come in like that, we leave them bagged like that to give out. It's really, simple, if you give a box of Tuna Helper, get the tuna to go with it.

Some who need help are also on food stamps, but they don't stretch far enough. I know of a senior couple who get $68 a month for them to eat on. You can't feed 2 on $68 a month. Many people are not aware that food stamps do not cover toilet paper, soap, shampoo, women's monthly items or deodorant. Its nice to include those items as well.

Right now I am working with a young lady who I am giving food to directly. On my way to take it to her, I am going to stop the store and get her some frozen chicken breasts, ground hamburger, bread, milk and eggs, bag of potatoes, and a bag of mixed fruits (apples, oranges, grapefruit).

Also, remember that many are down on their luck and not proud of the fact they are going to the center for help. Give them the respect that you would want.

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Donate Food Thoughtfully - ingredients for a spaghetti meal
 
Donate Food Thoughtfully - food donation example
 

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
January 9, 20171 found this helpful

Excellent suggestions. My friend's church sets up a sliding pay scale. Even if a person pays a dime for a bag of food, they pay something, and it gives them some dignity.

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 523 Posts
January 19, 20181 found this helpful

Someone I know is out of work and visits the food banks. They bring home so much pasta, they try to get me to take some. I think it's very generous of you to do shopping on your own and see that some family will have meat to go with that pasta.

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Thank you

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Bronze Tip Medal for All Time! 64 Tips
January 19, 20181 found this helpful

What about hotel type toiletries? Have tons of these

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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 969 Posts
January 21, 20181 found this helpful

I recently went through the donation station at my senior community center. These items had been on the table for two weeks and were about to be given to the local thrift store. I got pants, tops and then went through my home. I was able to give food, a 6 pack of tp, bandaids, ladies pads, more. Then I returned some things to Dollar Tree for store credit and was able to get 36 pairs of sock.

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I can tell you from experience I don't give much as I don't have much. But I also have a roof over my head and shop so frugally that I almost always have something I can donate. This article is very good for us all to think about.
Many of us live just two paychecks from a stone pillow. What goes around now might come around later.

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