Though we greatly appreciate any food items you have over purchased, non-perishable items such as canned meats and vegetables are preferred.
Food drives: they happen at your office, your child’s classroom, your local church, community centers – everywhere. With 37 million Americans experiencing hunger, donating your extra or purchased dry and canned goods might seem like the best way to help families in need. But, the best way to support us is actually through donating money.
Here are four reasons why donating money over food helps more families in need:
We can turn a donated dollar into more meals
Rather than paying retail prices, our network works with our food bank, major manufacturers, retailers, and farmers to secure healthy food. This means that when you donate a dollar, you’re able to put more meals on our tables than if you donated food you’d purchased at the store.
Donations build healthier communities
Canned goods and dry food items like pasta and rice are a vital part of our pantry—but no one can live healthy lives on non-perishable items alone. Feeding people isn’t just about providing food, but about providing healthy food. We work to keep our local food bank and local farms to source more fresh fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean proteins. These perishable items can’t be directly donated through food drives but are vital for healthy lives.
We use funds to combat food waste
Over 72 billion pounds of perfectly good food is wasted every year in the US. By working directly with local farmers, we help ensure that healthy fruits and vegetables that don’t make it to the grocery store end up on our plates instead of a landfill.
We may not have the capacity for large food donations
Before beginning to collect food donations, you should always contact us. Collecting and receiving food drive donations may cause unforeseen problems and expenses for us. We can help you understand what types of food we can safely accept and when and what food is needed the most.