Food Items Needed by Food Banks
Whether you're organizing a food drive or just want to make a family donation, if you're going to give food to a food bank you want your donation to do the greatest possible good. Knowing what items food banks most appreciate goes a long way toward helping you meet the needs in your community.
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Nonperishable Foods
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Need levels vary; food banks see crowds on some days and few people at all on others. For this reason, food banks appreciate nonperishable food items, such as canned foods, powdered milk, cereal, and other shelf-stable items that won't rot. Because food bank users tend to be at high risk for nutrition-related diseases, choose low-fat, low-salt items such as water-canned tuna and no-salt-added vegetables.
Protein Sources
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Simple carbohydrates such as white rice, white bread, cakes and cookies line the shelves of many food banks. Carbohydrates are cheap to produce, and stores often donate leftovers to food banks, but protein sources are few and far between. That's why food banks "most needed" lists, such as that of the Food Bank of Larimer County of Colorado, includes items such as canned meats and peanut butter.
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Fresh Produce
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Food drives often focus on canned items, but food banks also need fresh produce. These healthy foods help protect the health of vulnerable populations. Food banks give out over 500 million pounds of fresh produce each year according to an interview Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, gave to "USA Today" in January of 2011. Some food banks even take garden produce.
Holiday Items
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Many food banks ask for extra food during the holidays, when food security is especially hard on the needy. The Food Bank of Larimer County's website lists frozen turkeys, frozen hams, canned cranberry sauce and boxed stuffing mix among its desired items. Contact your local food bank around November 1. The staff should be able to tell you then exactly what their major food needs are for that holiday season.
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