Food pantry rant

[SavvyMom]

You can also take old children's books to your doctor's office. I know that our doctor is always grateful to have books for his waiting room, exam rooms, etc. My kids are always grateful to have something on their level to read or look at.

I believe in providing what they don't get: food, clothing, books, toys. Ya'll rock for helping the less fortunate.

 

[Freyja]

Those are the people who say they give plenty to charity, but do it quietly and without any attention drawn to them.

In the past month, I bet that I've seen that line used at least 50 times on some threads.

Ghee. I give a lot to charity. Always do it quietly and usually prefer no attention to be drawn to me when I do it. I would NEVER donate stained clothes or expired food. I really have a problem with your comment.

 

[kinntj]

My DD's school is starting donations on Monday through the month of October for needy families. I started explaining to DD what the donations meant and that she'll carry them to school to others who are having a tough time.

Don't have to worry about expired stuff in our pantry, because it doesn't have much in there right now except for canned tomato sauce and paste. I always go shopping for us like we normally do and then pick up extra boxes or cans of stuff we buy for ourselves. I love throwing AuGratin/scalloped potato boxes in there and some cereal on sale. It's light for my DD to bring to school on the bus.

Now that I think of it, both DD's school is having food drives this month. Better get lots of stuff on sale.

 

[jemiaule]

Don't have to worry about expired stuff in our pantry, because it doesn't have much in there right now except for canned tomato sauce and paste. I always go shopping for us like we normally do and then pick up extra boxes or cans of stuff we buy for ourselves. I love throwing AuGratin/scalloped potato boxes in there and some cereal on sale. It's light for my DD to bring to school on the bus.

You reminded me of the problem our food bank had (maybe still has), too much tomato sauce and paste donations. It seems around here that is the thing most people donate. Last years fall drive they had to ask folks to please NOT donate tomato sauce or paste.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I know this isn't really the point, but I have a heck of a time getting my parents to throw anything out. The only way I can get things out of the house is if we donate them. Often we both know there is no way purple heart is going to use it, but I guess there is a chance in hell and that makes mom feel better.

For people who have a really hard time tossing anything, giving it to charity, and having the charity toss it makes them feel better. No emotional attachment.

I know I have a lot of food in my own pantry I need to toss. I might be ok, but I know how old it is and i am not going to eat it.

So I can understand why people do it, and I can understand how frustrating it would be from the people who work at the food banks view point.

Public service announcement: Food bank donations are not the same thing as pantry garage sales. When it comes to food one persons trash is the next persons trash, not treasure.

 

[disneyfan67]

Ghee. I give a lot to charity. Always do it quietly and usually prefer no attention to be drawn to me when I do it. I would NEVER donate stained clothes or expired food. I really have a problem with your comment.

If you don't do that, then you shouldn't have a problem with it. I'm talking about some of the people who have used that line on some of the health care threads that have been floating around here lately. I seen that line used along with the classic "I pulled myself up by the bootstraps" motto about a million times this week..

I probably shouldn't have used this thread to express my frustration and for that, I apologize.

 

[luvthatduke]

I second the no tomato ANYTHING request.
I've also read numerous requests over the years that state,
"Please NO greenbeans."
Seems like tomatoes & beans are very popular to give,
but there's lots of other veggies available in cans .

I never did understand anyone donating expired food,
no matter whether they were cleaning out or whatever.
Just throw it out yourself & if you want to give then pick
up a few extra items on your next shopping trip.

Also, I found this out from seasoned volunteers:
Please try not to give anything that requires additional
food to make it, i.e. Mac & Cheese, Cake Mixes, Pudding, etc.
I'm not saying they don't give those things away
& people aren't grateful for them,
but for some people there is not one single egg
or a quart of milk in the house, and there's no money to buy it
after paying bills.
Anything that requires adding store-bought food isn't always
the best thing to give - not my opinion, I'm just passing
along info I was given by people in the know
(please don't shoot the messenger).
If you can afford it, it seems that the convenience packs of pudding,
and the microwave desserts that are just heat & serve
can be a real blessing to some.

Blessings to all who donate, and to those who sort & deliver!

 

[Green Tea]

Our food pantry advertises a specific food item for a month. It is on the radio, and churches that participate request that item. One month is beans and rice, another cereal, another canned meats, one for vegetables. They say it is very successful. I would think it would lead to too much on one item for patrons each month, but I guess they have the storage facilites to store and give a good mix each time.

 

[Claudia1]

Our family, too, has always participated in every chance to help others and I try to take the kids with me to the store to pick out the food.

Years ago, when DD was about 9 or 10, she asked me how the people would be able to open the cans if they did not have any money. I asked her what a possible solution would be and she said they would need a can opener. Since then, we always buy a can opener with the food. If the organization is a food pantry that cannot use it, I throw it in the GoodWill collection box.

It may seem strange to others, but to me it meant that she understood what we were doing and had a desire to help in a positive manner. It is a family tradition that we still carry on today. It also reminds me to involve my kids as much as possible so that they learn how to give appropriately.

BTW, most places love baby food. Very few adults will eat the baby food so I feel good that a small child will be getting fed.

Great thread! Thanks for the tips!

 

[Pop Daddy]

how about Peas, I love to get rid of the cans of Peas

 

[Cantw8]

how about Peas, I love to get rid of the cans of Peas

you're going to go back on ignore

 

[MAKmom]

I keep reading this thead title as FOOD PANTY RAID

Years ago, I was talking to a women who worked at a food shelter and she mentioned a problem that that towards the end of the month while waiting for goverment checks or WIC or whatever (I don't remember the specifics) sometimes the moms would water down the formula they were feeding their babies to make it last longer. The thought of this always bothered me so whenever they do a food drive I always go out and buy a few cans of baby formula.

I'm glad you posted this. It never made sence to me why food drives asked for formula when there is a WIC program. It never occurred that WIC may not give you all the formula you need. It is not easy to get WIC. I guess some are needing help but do not qualify for help.

I know this isn't really the point, but I have a heck of a time getting my parents to throw anything out. The only way I can get things out of the house is if we donate them. Often we both know there is no way purple heart is going to use it, but I guess there is a chance in hell and that makes mom feel better.

For people who have a really hard time tossing anything, giving it to charity, and having the charity toss it makes them feel better. No emotional attachment.

:

My Mother is also a bit of a hoarder. If she is giving to me she can let go. My dad & I have an agreement. If she offers I say yes & I can give it away or throw it our. It is a real pain in the neck.

 

[DisneyPhD]

I keep reading this thead title as FOOD PANTY RAID

My Mother is also a bit of a hoarder. If she is giving to me she can let go. My dad & I have an agreement. If she offers I say yes & I can give it away or throw it our. It is a real pain in the neck.

Yep, same here. If she offers we take it, no mater what it is. We just toss it here. Sometimes I even go over to her house and clean, but take the stuff I want to toss with me so she doesn't get it back out of the garbage later.

I don't know what it is about getting older that makes you hold on to everything. I guess it is the feeling that you don't want people to toss you when you are past your expiration date.

 

[stahshee]

Arrgh. It's that time of year again when we are stepping up the drive for food for the needy at our church. I love helping and have gotten the kids involved and they are getting into it as well. Here is my biggest pet peeve.

Because we are asking for donations for our food pantry, please do not feel it neccessary to take the opportunity to clean out your own pantry and donate all your expired food. It would be more appreciated if you just donated 2 or 3 current items than 3 bags of rice and beans from 2004.

You cannot imagine the amount of expired items that we have to dump. It makes ourt work that much harder.

Thanks for letting me vent and thanks for remembering your local food bank.

I think that it is great that you help!.

 

[NCRedding]

I didn't realize that food banks received too much tomato stuff and green beans. I'm guilty of giving these items since I think green beans are one of the only vegetables that most people like. I like to donate tomato sauce since you can do so much with it. Guess I'll rethink my strategy.

I sometimes volunteer for our local charity thrift store sorting clothers, and I agree--it is unreal what some people think is acceptable for donation.

 

[barkley]

unless a food pantry is looking for specific items around a theme (like traditional foods to thanksgiving or christmas...) i can suggest some items that were tremendously popular at the small food pantry at our social services office (primarily funded by employee donations-it was just a small closet we threw together to have something on hand for situations when traditional pantry's were'nt available or appropriate).

snack items suitable for lunches (most kids in these situations get free lunches at school, but those lunches are'nt available on weekends/school breaks. working parents can also use these items becuase they often go without lunch in favor of the kids eating)-these include small bags of chips, granola bars, non refridgeratable pudding cups...i used to try to grab those small bags of teddy grahms, mini ritz bitz and mini oreos that are sold for trick or treaters and donate them (they have no halloween picture on them and they are a great size to toss in a lunch bag).

items that don't require much else to prepare or much if any cooking supplies-goober (you get the pb and j all in one jar ), top ramen or cup o' noodles (only need hot water), cup o' soups, instant oatmeal or instant grits in the individual packets, those small variety packs of cereal (grab them when they are on a realy good sale), those little self contained tuna snacks (they have the tuna, relish, mayo and crackers in the container), those drink straw thingy's (the single serving drinks that you pour into a bottle or glass of water-i avoid the kool aide and opt for the lemon aide, lime aide, teas), the individual microwavable packets of mac n cheese or hamburgar helper (only need water)-and the old favorite of kids 'spagetti o's'

another item that we rarely got donated but was helpful-paper bowls and plastic utensils. a person in a homeless motel might have a hot plate or an electric tea kettle, but often has nothing to serve food in.

the school my kids used to go to did a very successful food drive every year. i tend to think the reason it went over so well and they got such a good variety of appropriate foods was because 2 weeks before collection, the kids went out to the neighborhoods (as a field trip, with us parents along side them) and left paper bags on each step. we attached a flyer that offered suggestions of what was needed, and what was not. the flyer advised when we would be back by to pick up and instructed people to just leave the bags on their front porch that morning. as a result we were able to get many more donations of the nature that the local food pantry needed, and if there was a special demand for an item we could give a heads up and people might grab some during that 2 weeks when they did their own grocery shopping.

btw-if a food pantry is getting massive donations of garbonzo beans they ought to consider looking up and printing a few easy recipies for how to use these. they are a major staple in vegan diets and very good when used in a variety of baked dishes.

 

[NotUrsula]

... And if your donation is to Scouting for Food, please remember that this is a CANNED FOOD drive only. We are required to find someone else to take anything that is not in a can. DS' troop is parochial school-based, so we give ours to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. It takes a lot of extra time for the boys to sort out all the non-can donations. (Personally I don't like the can-only rule, but the Scouts enforce it here. Foil pouches and such are a lot easier to transport home on a bus, if you ask me.)

In our case, we love spaghetti sauce, but please, stick to the complete kind that is just open and serve, even if you wouldn't eat such a thing. Small cans of tomatoes, plain sauce or paste such as you would use for making your special sauce at home are not the best choice; many of the recipients have little to no cooking skills and don't have any sort of seasonings. Also, no glass jars, please -- we get complaints every year that some parent's car or SUV has been ruined by boys slinging bags into the back that turned out to contain glass jars of spaghetti sauce.

I agree that can openers are great donations in general, particularly the kind that cut the can from the side -- safer in a household where kids do a lot of the cooking. I like to give plastic serving items, too, and things like big cheap spoons to get the stuff out of pans.

BTW: we collect in early November, and what we get too much of every year is Pumpkin Pie filling, usually from the year before.

 

[Carly_Roach]

I totally agree about people who use food drives to clean out their shelves without caring about expiration dates. But I wanted to add another viewpoint to the clothes and furniture thing:

While YOU may be embarassed over that stain on your daughter's coat and feel it's worthy of the trash bag, please remember that, to someone whose five year old doesn't have a coat at all, it's better than nothing. If it's a choice of going cold or wearing something that might be stained by koolaid, most people would choose to be warm.

The same with furniture. I was so angry when the Salvation Army decided that any rips or stains in furniture, no matter how small, made it something they wouldn't take. To the person with five kids and NO sofa, even an old, but clean, davenport with a small rip in the back skirt is better than seating them in folding chairs. AND they have an extra bed for one more person.

I wound up giving that davenport to a friend's daughter when she moved away from home. When she was able to get better furniture, she gave it to a friend of hers, who, in turn, gave it to friend of hers and it's still in his apartment if I remember correctly. Those things are heavy, but they're comfortable and built to last. Something, I'm sure, that would have been much appreciated in a household where furniture was sparse.

Obviously something the cat used as a litterbox is not a good thing to donate. But something the cat might have scratched on a few times? That may be a most welcome piece of furniture in an otherwise bare room.

A little food for thought.

 

[Mkrop]

My sons school does at least three different food drives thorughout the year. Oct is going to be a peanut butter and jellly drive. I am ok with this but I am surprised that given the rise in the peanut allergy that we still do this.

The Thanksgiving drive is broken down by grade (K-8 school) and each grade is responsible for a specifc food item, from canned veggies, to box stuffing and mashed potatoes to coffee and tea bags. Although I wondered about the coffee and how you might open that without a can opener or a coffe maker, or the cans of juice that are brought in

Then in Feb they do a formula drive. I too did not know until recently how WIC worked and how this drive helps supplement what is given out.

Although I do ask this question why would you buy microwavable things? Do the people utilizing the pantry have microwaves?

Also couldnt the pie fillings that were mentioned (if not expired) be donated to an actual soup kitchen where the volunteers could make some pies or even pumpkin bread for the meals theya re serving.

 

[krcit]

Our school had a collection for Hurricane Katrina victims and I couldn't belive the junk that people sent and dropped off. Open boxes and jars of food, rusted, broken lamps, games with half the pieces missing. We stood at the truck and packed everything in boxes and bags and if the person was still there, we gave it right back to them.