teratocybernetics:swissshard:gargarean:ex0skeletal:This is important all year long, but especially d
teratocybernetics:swissshard:gargarean:ex0skeletal:This is important all year long, but especially during the holidays. If you’re able, please consider donating to local food banks or shelters.WHAT FOOD BANKS NEED MOST (AND WHAT THEY GET TOO MUCH OF) Storage space is often in short supply at food banks, so prioritization is key. Canned meats: Think beyond tuna & soup, which food banks get tons of. Instead go for canned beef, canned ham, canned chicken, canned salmon. Or hearty ready-to-go meals like beef stew and chili with meat.Canned vegetables: Everyone donates green beans. Instead, give potatoes, carrots, spinach, peas or any other veggies your family likes.Canned fruit: Not pineapple. This is the most commonly donated fruit. Any other fruit, particularly those in fruit juice without extra sugar, would be great. Dried fruit works too (raisins, etc.)Boxes of rice (bags can tear)Low-sugar cereal like plain Cheerios or Raisin BranPeanut butterInstant oatmeal, instant gritsCans of beans (not green beans)Pasta, pasta sauceBiscuit mix, or any mix you only add water toCans, cartons or boxes of powered and evaporated milkSnack items for kids to take to school: juice boxes, applesauce containers, granola barsDiapers in sizes above newborn, plus wipesToiletries: toothbrushes, soap, toothpaste, lotion, shampoo & conditioner, Chapstick (consider someone living outside this time of year)Feminine hygiene products: unscented pads will be most universally used, not tamponsSpices like cinnamon, oregano, basil, salt, pepperSliced bread. It’s got a long shelf life but always goes immediately.Bags of apples or potatoes. Ditto.Chocolate. It’s not a necessity but just a pick-me-up that I would sure appreciate, especially when it comes time to fill stockings.Consider donating reusable shopping bags. It takes a lot of humility for people to come to a food bank and since they’ll likely be walking home or taking public transportation, it’s nice to at least blend in. (via What Food Banks Need Most)This is great!To add two things people over look: body wipes, baby wipes, waterless hand sanitising gel - often a primary method of cleaning the body (we used to called them “truckers showers”).Also as odd as this sounds, Dog food. Many homeless people adopt stray dogs, the poor things go hungry too.Great additionsSPICES. Try a local farmer’s market, ours sells small buckets of powdered and dried herbs for sometimes way less than half the price for the tiny-ass jars the supermarket sells. Freelancing is super feast-or-famine, and I don’t know how many times I’ve had to credit the spice cabinet with turning an absolute chore of a meal that was all I could afford to cover the next three or four days into something that felt it was actually meant for a human. -- source link
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