Woman Shares A List Of Acceptable Donation To Food Banks Which Gets Appreciated By 108K People On Twitter
Food banks and the initiatives they support seem to be an essential part of our societies, as they help the people who are less than fortunate or have stumbled into hard times. The first food bank was established more than 50 years ago, back in 1967.
And since then, the concept of donating food to those less fortunate has become a backbone in many communities. Food pantries are on a smaller scale than banks, but they basically function in conjunction. A pantry is supplied with food by the food bank, and people can then receive their essentials from the local pantry operation.
However, as with many things, you cannot just chuck things at the food pantry (or food bank) and hope something sticks, because your good will might end up causing more problems than it solves. So, knowing what is welcome as donations to food banks is necessary. That’s where the internet comes in.
Turns out, there are dos and don’ts when it comes to donating to food banks
Image credits: PunkyMantilla
Apparently, someone compiled a list of items that will always be welcomed by food banks. The list originally appeared on Facebook, and the Twitter user Piney Mantilla (a former pantry worker) confirmed that the list is accurate and, in fact, very useful as it depicts what items people can donate without a doubt that they will be rejected.
This Facebook account shared a list of welcome donations to food banks/pantries
Food and meals are not the only items you can donate; hygienic products are on the list as well
Image credits: PunkyMantilla
Image credits: PunkyMantilla
If you are struggling, food is obviously a much-needed commodity. But sometimes, there are items that can be just as crucial. Of course, these usually are hygienic products, something that often slips our minds when we think of food banks. However, everything from soaps to dishwashing liquid to diapers would also help people in need. After all, those who are suffering in these hard times likely have sparse income, so everyday essential items might be out of reach to some of them.
Donating cash is also acceptable as it helps the food pantry to cover what’s missing
Image credits: PunkyMantilla
Image credits: PunkyMantilla
Another good point the Twitter user raised was the donation of money. Sometimes people, instead of donating food items, simply give charity in the form of cash. And that’s okay—or maybe even more than that. Food banks and pantries sometimes have discounts when it comes to certain food items, meaning they would get more for their money than your average person. That doesn’t mean we should all start throwing money at this problem—every donation helps, be it some food, a bar of soap that you know you won’t use, or even a ready-to-bake cake mix for special occasions. Sharing is what matters!
People were moved by the post and were quick to offer their own opinions and suggestions
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Share on FacebookAlso, don't buy bulk then break it up; the food bank I volunteered for will not use it unless they are in separate containers like lunch bag chips and such. We had someone open a bag of rice and separate them into small baggies-they were throw out because they couldn't confirm it wasn't tampered with.
I can afford food (buy from dollar/outlet) but can't afford running water because my city Chino Hills, 91709 charges $150 USD a month even if I don't use one drop...extra hard since covid closed all the gyms and most public restroom
Load More Replies...I live in a VERY small town. We have a community center, a post office that is 5 foot across max, and a library that is completely volunteer. We have recently added a food shelf in the entry way of the community center. Items that are always needed there are shampoo/conditioner, soap, laundry detergent, deodorant, pet food, sanitary items for adults/women/infants, and 'all in a box' meals.
I work with a group whose sole purpose is to provide tampons, pads, and panty liners, etc. to donate to food pantries and schools. We go directly to the companies to get help and take them to the large food banks that distribute to smaller food pantries. There are girls in the United States of America that have to miss a few days of school each month because they afford pads. That is so sad and unnecessary.
What a wonderful mission. It does seem weird that schools provide toilet paper but not period products. They are equally necessary.
Load More Replies...I love bored pandaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a poor person who is also Celiac. Gluten-free foods aren't a luxury for some people and is more expensive than the "normal" kind. ONE crumb of regular bread and I am Mt. Vesuvius from both ends and am sick like that for at least a week. But no one donates gluten free foods to food pantries, so I go without
Whenever I donate cake mixes and such, I donate small jars of mayonaise as well. My grandmother had 11 kids, 8 of which were boys so eggs and oil were not going into baking so she would make mayonaise cakes since mayo is oil and eggs. They were super good.
Whelp, time to put together some “period packs” for my local food bank. Pads, tampons, chocolate, pretzels, what else? Any ideas?
I am 70 and use the local food bank or pantries often. It helps give me the groceries and stuff I need and would have to do without. It is really fun to go to the food pantry and get something you thought you would have to do without. It made my month when my doggie was still alive and I could get some cups of dog food. It made her day too! Actually those cartons of shelf milk were a favorite of mine. I live alone and use milk slowly so those cartons meant it never went bad before I could.use it. Sometimes for us soldier who live alone my food bank use to break one loaf of bread into 2-3servings in zipper type plastic bags. That way you didn't have bread going bad either. You like a bit of everything to have at home but sometimes less is more when you live alone. I totally agree about feminine hygiene products and bar soaps and laundry detergent. Even if you don't have quarters to pay for laundry. You can always wash clothes in your tub if you have laundry soap or dish soap & hang dry.
Bless you Sarah Burke Cahalan, I am that person whose day it'd make. I'd add curry pastes, simmer sauces and canned/boxed low sodium broths would be great donations too. I can't believe I didn't think of donating coffee, but it's probably because it's always been one of my top priorities to find the best cheapest coffee I can myself. Good coffee is essential for inner peace.
I have a better idea. Instead of buying food and donating it to the food bank, let's just donate the money. It's easier, and they can use it to buy whatever they need most, when they need it most. And they can make bulk purchases which are more cost effective and easier for them to distribute.
Yeah, I’ll drop off the occasional item in food bins so that I’m not wasting it, but any time I’m specifically setting out to donate to them these days, I give money because I’d already heard a few years ago about how much more they can get for their money than I can.
Load More Replies...I volunteer at a lical food bank, and they have strict criteria for what they will accept. When we sort donations, unacceptable items go in the trash. When I set up food drives for them at a couple organizations I apprised donors of what the food bank could and could not take, as well as what was needed most.
I live in the UK and asked the two main food bank trustees/companies (I don't know what you'd call them I'm sorry) and they will not accept sanitary pads/tampons/depends/panty liners or any animal food. (I donated a couple of bags of dog and cat food last christmas and the supermarket assistant told me they couldn't take them, or the non food items we had put in. Gave the animal food to the local shelter and the pads to the local school (but they were reluctant to take them until I said they'd just go into the bin on my way out).
Good for you for trying but that isn't the case for all I promise. Many will take pet food and sanitary products gladly. I'm sorry you had that experience when doing your best to be helpful. This link is for the Clapham Foodbank but it's run by The Trussell Trust (425 foodbanks countrywide). I'm using this link as it shows the pet food listed clearly where others sites don't always include them even though they may very well accept them. https://claphampark.foodbank.org.uk/2015/12/23/6-unexpected-things-foodbanks-need/
Load More Replies...The best thing you can donate is CASH. The people who run the food banks know more than anyone else what is needed in their area, and they also have access to better prices on everything you could possibly donate because they can buy it wholesale and in bulk. ...///... If you really want to help, give money, not stuff.
While I understand cash is king, giving cash doesn't feel personal. Giving a tangible item gives the donor a connection to the recipient. It can feel so good to pick out items that you think someone else will enjoy using. The same reason most people don't give cash as Christmas gifts. It isn't personal and from the heart. While I have donated cash to food banks, I would rather donate items.
Load More Replies...I got this from a Facebook friend and immediately re-shared it. Excellent display of common sense and essential humanity. I just set up a monthly donation to our local foodbank. I challenge all Pandas to donate now to feed others less fortunate than ourselves. The richest country in the world should have NO hunger, ever.
I've been on both ends of this. After the end of my marriage I was homeless and was helped by a foodbank. Much of what was given depended on having full and proper cooking equipment and the ability to use it. Unfortunately I was unable to use a cooker at that point so a lot of it couldn't be used. It's handy to include foods that can be eaten as they are. Disability and injuries can prevent some from using cookers etc. I remember a few short years ago there was no need in my country for food banks. Unfortunately we are ruled by a government that has punished the most vulnerable and disabled for the crimes of the bankers who caused the crash..
It shouldn’t be a luxury to get items for survival and hygiene. I hope it changes in the future. 😔
Also, people with food allergies/intolerances end up in need as well and speciality foods can be expensive-eg. cheap gluten free bread is about 4 times more expensive that cheap normal bread where I am. So if you notice any of these items on sale, maybe grab a couple to donate.
Omg , I knew,, but this post drove it home. So grateful to be in Denmark, where we have public support from government so noone needs to starve. And can get medical help. That is “evil communist” for you.
I volunteer at a food bank twice a month at a church. What we always tell people is you can get diapers and formula at planned parenthood.
I keep reading give cash. Please donate to the local food bank. The large NC food bank charges the small food banks for getting food from them. Also a small church pastor let me know he couldn't put out toilet paper or hygiene products bc one or two would take all he put out. It can be hard to help.
I'm donating the stick on pads that my daughter no longer uses since she went on the pill. A couple of the packs have popped open ( cos they had something heavy on them in storage,) I taped them shut and hope that they are accepted once someone realises that none are missing from the pack. I've also started doing the UHT milk and long life juice. I should do sugar and flour. All our food banks here say no fresh or frozen food anyway.
You dont "need" butter and milk for boxed mac n cheese. If youre hungry you mix the mac with the pac and eat.
When I worked in a community action center doing free legal facilitation, we had issues with some people living in their cars so pop tops really came in candy.
I can't believe that our civilization has reached a point where we need posts like this one.
As a local food bank volunteer, my number one suggestion is to ask your local food bank what they need!! Different banks operate in different ways with different resources and supply streams. Your own local food bank will happily tell you what they need the most! And thank you to everyone who is inspired to give!!
Give cloth diapers. They are eco-friendly and saves a lot of money, and the family won't need more.
Cloth diapers don't really stack up as any more eco-friendly than disposables when the full costs are factored in. They're also hard to keep clean if you don't have laundry facilities, and expensive to clean if you do. Washing machines and tumble dryers are *not* cheap to run, and a lot of people are already making tough choices about their electricity usage.
Load More Replies...I keep seeing things like 'feminine hygiene products are so expensive'. But in the Netherlands they really... arent. An average box of 32 tampons will cost like 1.20. Does anyone have a ballpark figure of what the costs are like in the US?
Also, don't buy bulk then break it up; the food bank I volunteered for will not use it unless they are in separate containers like lunch bag chips and such. We had someone open a bag of rice and separate them into small baggies-they were throw out because they couldn't confirm it wasn't tampered with.
I can afford food (buy from dollar/outlet) but can't afford running water because my city Chino Hills, 91709 charges $150 USD a month even if I don't use one drop...extra hard since covid closed all the gyms and most public restroom
Load More Replies...I live in a VERY small town. We have a community center, a post office that is 5 foot across max, and a library that is completely volunteer. We have recently added a food shelf in the entry way of the community center. Items that are always needed there are shampoo/conditioner, soap, laundry detergent, deodorant, pet food, sanitary items for adults/women/infants, and 'all in a box' meals.
I work with a group whose sole purpose is to provide tampons, pads, and panty liners, etc. to donate to food pantries and schools. We go directly to the companies to get help and take them to the large food banks that distribute to smaller food pantries. There are girls in the United States of America that have to miss a few days of school each month because they afford pads. That is so sad and unnecessary.
What a wonderful mission. It does seem weird that schools provide toilet paper but not period products. They are equally necessary.
Load More Replies...I love bored pandaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As a poor person who is also Celiac. Gluten-free foods aren't a luxury for some people and is more expensive than the "normal" kind. ONE crumb of regular bread and I am Mt. Vesuvius from both ends and am sick like that for at least a week. But no one donates gluten free foods to food pantries, so I go without
Whenever I donate cake mixes and such, I donate small jars of mayonaise as well. My grandmother had 11 kids, 8 of which were boys so eggs and oil were not going into baking so she would make mayonaise cakes since mayo is oil and eggs. They were super good.
Whelp, time to put together some “period packs” for my local food bank. Pads, tampons, chocolate, pretzels, what else? Any ideas?
I am 70 and use the local food bank or pantries often. It helps give me the groceries and stuff I need and would have to do without. It is really fun to go to the food pantry and get something you thought you would have to do without. It made my month when my doggie was still alive and I could get some cups of dog food. It made her day too! Actually those cartons of shelf milk were a favorite of mine. I live alone and use milk slowly so those cartons meant it never went bad before I could.use it. Sometimes for us soldier who live alone my food bank use to break one loaf of bread into 2-3servings in zipper type plastic bags. That way you didn't have bread going bad either. You like a bit of everything to have at home but sometimes less is more when you live alone. I totally agree about feminine hygiene products and bar soaps and laundry detergent. Even if you don't have quarters to pay for laundry. You can always wash clothes in your tub if you have laundry soap or dish soap & hang dry.
Bless you Sarah Burke Cahalan, I am that person whose day it'd make. I'd add curry pastes, simmer sauces and canned/boxed low sodium broths would be great donations too. I can't believe I didn't think of donating coffee, but it's probably because it's always been one of my top priorities to find the best cheapest coffee I can myself. Good coffee is essential for inner peace.
I have a better idea. Instead of buying food and donating it to the food bank, let's just donate the money. It's easier, and they can use it to buy whatever they need most, when they need it most. And they can make bulk purchases which are more cost effective and easier for them to distribute.
Yeah, I’ll drop off the occasional item in food bins so that I’m not wasting it, but any time I’m specifically setting out to donate to them these days, I give money because I’d already heard a few years ago about how much more they can get for their money than I can.
Load More Replies...I volunteer at a lical food bank, and they have strict criteria for what they will accept. When we sort donations, unacceptable items go in the trash. When I set up food drives for them at a couple organizations I apprised donors of what the food bank could and could not take, as well as what was needed most.
I live in the UK and asked the two main food bank trustees/companies (I don't know what you'd call them I'm sorry) and they will not accept sanitary pads/tampons/depends/panty liners or any animal food. (I donated a couple of bags of dog and cat food last christmas and the supermarket assistant told me they couldn't take them, or the non food items we had put in. Gave the animal food to the local shelter and the pads to the local school (but they were reluctant to take them until I said they'd just go into the bin on my way out).
Good for you for trying but that isn't the case for all I promise. Many will take pet food and sanitary products gladly. I'm sorry you had that experience when doing your best to be helpful. This link is for the Clapham Foodbank but it's run by The Trussell Trust (425 foodbanks countrywide). I'm using this link as it shows the pet food listed clearly where others sites don't always include them even though they may very well accept them. https://claphampark.foodbank.org.uk/2015/12/23/6-unexpected-things-foodbanks-need/
Load More Replies...The best thing you can donate is CASH. The people who run the food banks know more than anyone else what is needed in their area, and they also have access to better prices on everything you could possibly donate because they can buy it wholesale and in bulk. ...///... If you really want to help, give money, not stuff.
While I understand cash is king, giving cash doesn't feel personal. Giving a tangible item gives the donor a connection to the recipient. It can feel so good to pick out items that you think someone else will enjoy using. The same reason most people don't give cash as Christmas gifts. It isn't personal and from the heart. While I have donated cash to food banks, I would rather donate items.
Load More Replies...I got this from a Facebook friend and immediately re-shared it. Excellent display of common sense and essential humanity. I just set up a monthly donation to our local foodbank. I challenge all Pandas to donate now to feed others less fortunate than ourselves. The richest country in the world should have NO hunger, ever.
I've been on both ends of this. After the end of my marriage I was homeless and was helped by a foodbank. Much of what was given depended on having full and proper cooking equipment and the ability to use it. Unfortunately I was unable to use a cooker at that point so a lot of it couldn't be used. It's handy to include foods that can be eaten as they are. Disability and injuries can prevent some from using cookers etc. I remember a few short years ago there was no need in my country for food banks. Unfortunately we are ruled by a government that has punished the most vulnerable and disabled for the crimes of the bankers who caused the crash..
It shouldn’t be a luxury to get items for survival and hygiene. I hope it changes in the future. 😔
Also, people with food allergies/intolerances end up in need as well and speciality foods can be expensive-eg. cheap gluten free bread is about 4 times more expensive that cheap normal bread where I am. So if you notice any of these items on sale, maybe grab a couple to donate.
Omg , I knew,, but this post drove it home. So grateful to be in Denmark, where we have public support from government so noone needs to starve. And can get medical help. That is “evil communist” for you.
I volunteer at a food bank twice a month at a church. What we always tell people is you can get diapers and formula at planned parenthood.
I keep reading give cash. Please donate to the local food bank. The large NC food bank charges the small food banks for getting food from them. Also a small church pastor let me know he couldn't put out toilet paper or hygiene products bc one or two would take all he put out. It can be hard to help.
I'm donating the stick on pads that my daughter no longer uses since she went on the pill. A couple of the packs have popped open ( cos they had something heavy on them in storage,) I taped them shut and hope that they are accepted once someone realises that none are missing from the pack. I've also started doing the UHT milk and long life juice. I should do sugar and flour. All our food banks here say no fresh or frozen food anyway.
You dont "need" butter and milk for boxed mac n cheese. If youre hungry you mix the mac with the pac and eat.
When I worked in a community action center doing free legal facilitation, we had issues with some people living in their cars so pop tops really came in candy.
I can't believe that our civilization has reached a point where we need posts like this one.
As a local food bank volunteer, my number one suggestion is to ask your local food bank what they need!! Different banks operate in different ways with different resources and supply streams. Your own local food bank will happily tell you what they need the most! And thank you to everyone who is inspired to give!!
Give cloth diapers. They are eco-friendly and saves a lot of money, and the family won't need more.
Cloth diapers don't really stack up as any more eco-friendly than disposables when the full costs are factored in. They're also hard to keep clean if you don't have laundry facilities, and expensive to clean if you do. Washing machines and tumble dryers are *not* cheap to run, and a lot of people are already making tough choices about their electricity usage.
Load More Replies...I keep seeing things like 'feminine hygiene products are so expensive'. But in the Netherlands they really... arent. An average box of 32 tampons will cost like 1.20. Does anyone have a ballpark figure of what the costs are like in the US?
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