Food Bank Donation Guide

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STOCKING THE SHELVES

A guide to food bank donations

BY ANNA DEGOEDE

Well-meaning individuals lugging grocery bags of bread and old cans of soup to the food bank might be surprised to learn that most of their donations will get thrown out instead of going to the homes of people who need them. While contributing to food banks is a common activity for those looking to make a difference or get some community service hours in, the sheer quantity of people making donations can lead to a build-up of unwanted items at times.

To maximize the donation’s impact, many websites recommend directly asking a food bank, such as Island Harvest, a food bank organization local to Long Island, what it prefers to receive.

Don Miller, the public relations representative for Island Harvest, said, “Island Harvest Food Bank does take food that needs refrigeration, mostly from commercial donors like supermarkets and food distributors.”

While Island Harvest may accept refrigerated items, people looking to contribute refrigerated items should ask a food bank if there is a refrigeration system before donating any items that need to be kept cold.

Miller pointed to several resources that help improve the quality and variety of food donations, including

Feeding America, a non-profit network of food banks around the country. According to Feeding America, staple items are among the things that are often overlooked when people think about what to donate. Salt, pepper, sugar, condiments and various spices are a way to liven up the other basic food items that people might receive from a food bank.

Food for people with dietary restrictions, like gluten free bread, Kosher foods and Halal foods are also good ways to promote diversity within food bank programs.

Items that should not be donated include food in glass containers, food with damaged packaging, expired food and sugary baked goods.

However, there are more ways to assist food banks than just providing food. Island Harvest, like many other food banks, accepts monetary donations.

Donating with time and volunteering also helps organizations immensely. Options for volunteering with Island Harvest include assisting with food collection and distribution, helping in warehouses and aiding with office work.

Those with gardening space have another option. According to Miller, some gardeners “consider planting a row of vegetables for Island Harvest Food Bank in their backyard vegetable gardens and donate excess produce to the food bank.”

Lists for food banks in the Long Island area can be found at the following websites: www.foodpantries.org/ci/ ny, foodbanknyc.org/get-help, feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank and, of course, islandharvest.org.

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