Thinking About the Food Drive...

 

This is a video of a TV chef showing how to prepare some delicious food you can find at the food bank.

Here's what's on my mind.  Every year we have a food drive at school, and donate tons and tons of food for the local food banks.  This year, I'd like to push our food drive to a new level.  I want to learn more about how food banks and soup kitchens work, what kinds of people are "food insecure", what kinds of people volunteer at soup kitchens and food banks, and how to best get involved in helping the needy.  So I've been doing a little research...

Ever thought about "volunteering at a soup kitchen"?  I think it's something a lot of people talk about, but I wonder if anyone ever actually does it.  I looked into volunteering at a soup kitchen and was shocked to see what goes into providing enough food for all the hungry people who show up for lunch.  Here are the volunteer guidelines and soup recipes for a soup kitchen that serves between 700 and 1000 meals a day.  In Denver, you have to be 14 to volunteer...  )-:  But we can still help out in our own way, right?  (-:

Food Bank of the Rockies is a great place to volunteer if you are over 14.

I've also been thinking about the kinds of foods we donate to the food bank.  Most years we reward students for the number of food items brought in.  This means that kids are bringing in whatever unused stuff they have in their own pantry that no one wants to eat, or they are buying really cheap items, like ramen noodle soup, so they can get the most reward for their dollar.  But if I was in need of help feeding my family, and all we had to choose from was creamed spinach and ramen noodles, I would really worry about whether or not my kids were getting balanced, healthy nutrition.

I'd sure like to see kids bring in LESS food, and make it MORE of the stuff people would really want to eat, and which would help them meet their nutrition needs, rather than just fill the food drive box.

Here is a list I compiled from my research about what food banks are asking for...

• Peanut Butter (provides ready to eat, kid-friendly, portable protein)
• Cereal (less sugar is better)
• Tuna and other canned meat (non-perishable protein)
• Beans of all kinds - dry, canned, pinto, black, refried, kidney
• Rice - instant, wild rice, brown rice, or any kind of rice
• Macaroni and Cheese - easy!
• Chili - dry mix or canned
• Canned Stews - filling, easy to prepare, great for small portions (seniors who live alone, etc)
• Canned Soups - lower sodium is better, chunky soups are more filling
• Canned Lunch Meats
• Full Meals in a Can/Box - many people don't have the extra ingredients needed to make a recipe from scratch.  If all of the ingredients are in the box, that is often better
• “Pop Top” Food Items - something most of us wouldn't think about...  some folks don't have can openers, or have arthritis and can't operate them.
• Non-food items - food stamps can't be used on non-food items - things like diapers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, cleaning products, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, coloring books, etc.

I also found that there are many items people try to donate to food drives, but the food banks can't take them.  Here is a list of items you can't donate to a food bank...

• Home-canned or Homemade Goods
• Rusty or Unlabeled Cans
• Alcoholic Beverages, Mixes or Soda
• Opened or Used Items
• Glass Containers (they may break)
• Baby Food in Glass Jars (but baby food in boxes or plastic jars is okay)
• Over-The-Counter or Prescription Drugs
• Food After or Very Close to its Expiration Date

Here is a cool poster you can print to help advertise the items most needed...

12 Most Wanted Posters

 Know what else I learned?  Dollar for dollar, your donation goes a lot farther if you just donate money to the food bank, rather than share your dollar with the grocery store.  Food banks can buy a lot more healthy food at a better discount, using monetary donations, and can even buy some perishable items, like fresh fruits and veggies.  My conclusion, if you have food in your pantry your family will not eat, by all means, donate it!  But rather than buying items from the grocery store simply to donate for a food drive, you'd be better off giving your money directly to the food bank.  Here is a link you can use to donate money to the Rocky Mountain Resource Center.  https://www.givingfirst.org/addToCart.do?organizationId=27214What could be easier?

 One more thing I discovered is that often times people don't know how to prepare the bulk ingredients found at their food bank. People often prefer the pre-packaged convenience foods because they are easier to make, but they are not very good for you.  Also, they get snatched up quickly from the food bank shelves, leaving only ingredients that need preparation.  I found one simple cookbook with recipes designed for food bank clients.  I was thinking students at FMS could prepare a cookbook and have it printed, and give them to the foodbank in addition to our food donations.

Well, these are all big ideas, and I can't pull them off by myself!  If you are interested in being a part of my little project to take the food bank to a new level, please contact me at the school.

Tiffany Norton
tnorton@plattecanyonsd1.org
(303) 838-2054 x 1413