How to Start Your Food Storage

Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have counseled members to keep a year supply of food storage. Being prepared with food storage can be useful during natural disasters, power outages, and even during financial hardship or loss of income. Here's how you can get started.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Money to purchase the items
• Access to the church storehouse or to a grocery store

1. Compile a list of food and non-food supplies your family uses regularly and that you could not do with out in the event of an emergency. Also keep in mind whether or not these items are easy to store.
2. Budget your money so that you can set aside a small amount (more if you are able) to use to purchase your food storage items.
3. Each time you go to the grocery store or come across a sale of some of the items on your list, buy a few extra that you can store for your emergency supply. For example, canned goods or personal hygiene items. Keep these items in a shelf in your basement or another area away from your everyday supply.

Tips & Warnings

• Start small with your storage supplies with a month supply, then slowly work up to three months, six months and so on, until you reach a years supply.
• Make sure you rotate items that have expiration dates, such as food. When you use the items, make sure to take to replace them with new ones.
• Some people may not have the space or money to keep a year supply of food and supplies. If that is the case, do what you can. A month supply is better than not having anything at all.