What To Donate To A Food Pantry And What To Avoid

Food Bank Donation Dos and Don’ts

1. Shelf-stable milk is a treasure because it’s not just for drinking but is also in many recipes.
2. Everyone donates boxed macaroni and cheese but remember that it requires milk and butter which is hard to get from regular food banks.
3. Instant oatmeal is satisfying, healthy, and only requires hot water.
4. Everyone already donates pasta and tomato sauce.
5. Give the canned veggies, fruits, meats, and soups with the pop tops in case the recipients don’t have a can opener.
6. A lot of people donate those instant bag rice dishes but don’t forget to also donate the oil that’s needed!
7. People don’t often think of salt, pepper, and other spices but the sure would jazz up all of those cans of beans everyone donates.
8. Everyone loves stove top box stuffing but don’t forget to also donate the butter/margarine that’s required to make it.
9. Tea bags and coffee – I know it may not feel like necessary food but most adults enjoy at least one cup a day!
10. Don’t forget the babies – They need baby food, instant formula, and diapers!
11. Sugar and flour are often requested but rarely received.
12. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
13. Food cupboards usually get lots of peanut butter and jelly donated but usually not sandwich bread.
14. Cake mix and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake. There is a 2-ingredient cake recipe out there that is just a box of cake mix and a 12oz. can of soda!
15. Don’t forget fortified boxed cereals, granola bars, crackers, and juice boxes for kids!
16. Skip the junk food. I know it may seem like a fun gesture but the families who use this resource need nutritious foods. Kids get plenty of treats at school, children’s events in the community, religious institutions, etc.
17. If you find a food bank that has refrigeration available, consider donating eggs, butter/margarine, fresh meat, and fresh produce.
18. Food banks will sometimes also take non-food items like paper products and cleaning supplies. They can also be used by the staff at the actual food bank facility. Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
19. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury that women desperately need.

Donating New Items

Many collections during the holidays are asking for new items, rather than the secondhand items that usually come to mind when we think of the word ‘donation’. When buying new items for a toy or clothing drive:

1. Include the receipt. Consider, for example, all of the toy drives that ask donors to wrap the gift ahead of time and and then label it with a gender and age range. The gifts are then distributed according to the label, not the children’s interests. If I know a kid is only going to get one gift this year, I want it to be something that they really like. Every kid deserves that. People have the right to exchange a gift if it ends up not fitting well, not being their style or taste, not being comfortable, etc.
2. Pay for the donated item with cash so the exchange goes more smoothly. Unless otherwise told, a cashier will automatically process a return back to the original payment form. If you as the donor pay in cash, the return will automatically come back to the recipient as cash or a gift card to a store, rather than back to your credit card. This way the recipient can use that cash or gift card to secure a replacement gift that is the correct size, interest, etc. *I know there might be a reflex to counter “But what if they just return the item and pocket the cash?” My response is always, “It doesn’t matter. It’s a gift. What people choose to do with the gifts you give is up to them.”

What All Charities Need

Aside from the physical items required, all charities actually need money and manpower.

1. It might seem counter-intuitive and it might not give you the same warm fuzzies, but you can always reach out to any soup kitchen or food pantry and ask them who you can make the check out to. Organizations will use those monetary donations to purchase food or other items to fill in the gaps of what they have available for those in need.
2. So many people volunteer at soup kitchens on Thanksgiving Day and the day after that sometimes organizations actually have to turn them away! Volunteers take time to train, so a sudden flood of all-day once-a-year volunteers isn’t actually as helpful as you might think. Instead, consider a smaller shift once a month. It’s free for you and it really will make a difference for both the charity and for the people who benefit from it.