With it looking extremely likely that most states won't have SNAP funds available in November, I'm looking to collect a bunch of food to donate to my local food pantry. I'm just not sure what is the most useful. If you currently utilize food pantries, what are you most happy to see/do you wish they had available? Allergen friendly foods came to mind – gluten free pasta and things like that – but I'd love other ideas of things that might be difficult to get
Best foods to donate to a food pantry?
byu/lady-earendil inFrugal
Posted by lady-earendil
28 Comments
Money. They can buy food in bulk.
why are you asking reddit and not your LOCAL food pantry?
Money. They can buy popular foods in bulk with major discounts.
I’ve always read protein is good to balance all the pasta and rice they get. Canned tuna, chicken, peanut butter
Our local pantry asks for peanut butter, canned soups, and canned meats the most.
the pantries may have access to many staples like beans, rice, canned fruit and veg, and pastas. Some of the more expensive items are canned proteins, breakfast items, and sugar/flour/cooking oil. Anything unopened you bring will be appreciated and you will meet some wonderful people.
Low sodium canned tonatoes and do on.. A lot of older people have sodium restrictions.
I’ve heard that olive oil, powdered milk, shelf stable milk, coffee, and seasonings are infrequently donated and always appreciated.
They get better bulk discounts than you, so the best thing is money.
If you’re unable to donate money for whatever reason, I recall the food banks asking for shelf stable protein (peanut butter, canned tuna) and low and no effort breakfast stuff (cereal, granola bars) when I worked in a grocery store. Gluten free pasta is a niche item compared to rice or corn flakes or other stuff that’s gluten free by default.
Ours is calling out for pasta,spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables and oatmeal. I will usually add things like graham crackers and anything else that doesn’t need to be heated for the ones that are living in their vehicles.
Money
Our local one says what they don’t need because people tend to get pasta or beans in the uk. Tea, coffee and biscuits are always on the list of what they want (tea may not be on the list where you are), tinned goods like vegetables and pies
Donate money. My food pantry sent out marketing materials a while back that said they could purchase $2.75 worth of food for every $1.00 donated.
Cash.please just donate cash.
things that can be kept long:
dry legumes
pasta/rice/oats/cornmeal
canned veggies: corn, beets, tomatoes , peas…etc
canned protein sources: corned beef, tuna, sardines, mackerels….
dry herbs and spices (you never see those but they are needed imo): garlic powder, ginger, idk pepper, chili powder, curry powder?
I heard an interview with directors from food pantries and spices are always appreciated and rarely donated.
Money. But if you really wanna donate actual food, cooking oil.
If you want to donate something that’s kind of extra besides cash, go get a package of disposable cake tins. Wrap each one up in a plastic bag with a cake mix, frosting, and a small bottle of cooking oil, and a package of birthday candles. That’s much appreciated.
I’ll chime in with the others and say the best answer is money. BUT if you want to donate items, non-food products are good options too. Pet food, hygiene products, diapers, etc.
The best thing is money, they can get exactly what they need. Every location is going to have different needs because they all will end up getting different things. If you don’t want to give money then call and ask the location you’re donating to what they need most.
Most food pantries have a list of current needs online. You can’t go wrong with peanut butter, canned salmon, tuna, beans, and soups.
Ask your local food pantry. Popcorn is a popular item which isn’t donated very much near me, and spaghetti-Os or cans of Chef Boyardee pasta tend to go fast in the canned section, but every food pantry is different.
You also want to be cautious about respecting the limits of your local pantry’s available fridge or freezer space.
Cash, then they use their buying power.
This is such a nice thought, but donating $$$ is best. These centers know what they need and they get the best rates.
The reason specific personal preferences are not being met is because pantries take their funds to fill the most basic needs in the most cost effective way possible, with a set list of items that meet general daily health and dietary needs.
This means bulk purchasing standard staples that are either super shelf-stable or, if perishable like dairy meat or produce, they know will go home families well before the expiry dates.
If you yourself can get a good price on something seasonal in bulk, they’d likely appreciate that, but if not, money really will all the needs of the broadest number of people.
The other thing you could consider doing is donating hygiene products like soap, shampoo, diapers, kid bubble bath, feminine products… as long as they are sealed, those should be fine and aren’t always top priority when the focus is to get people fed.
If you need to donate tangibles- donate hygienic items, pet food and spices.
Cheese is really rare.
Diapers. And cash.
Cereal