10/12/2024
ITEMS TO DONATE TO COMMUNITY CLOSET /PANTRY !
I tend to give "treat" items to food banks because they get a lot of staples but families with kids also would like some treats. ALSO WOMENS HYGIENE PRODUCTS !
Food pantries generally see lots of rice, pasta, and discards from people's cupboards.
They need things to make those into a meal. Even more, into a nutritious and flavourful meal.
- protein (as others have said)
- canned tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes are incredibly useful
- canned beans of all types
- dried lentils, barley, beans
- brown rice or pasta for the extra nutrition
- canned vegetables: creamed corn makes a nice soup
- instant mashed potatoes are very useful
- flour
- crisco (shelf stable, many uses)
- quick / rolled oats
- feminine hygiene products
- men's shaving products
- everyone toiletries
- infant care: diapers through formula
- toddler care: regular / pull-up diapers
Luxuries: - SPICES!!! These are a luxury! Even basic ones like parsley, bay leaf, dill, thyme, oregano, etc. People are leery of opened packages, but if you can organise together with someone with a vacuum sealer, do bulk purchases, and make mini groups of seasoning packages - people will love it! Dollar store ziploc baggies inside a sealed package should do it.
- simmer sauces
- flavour pastes (ie thai green curry, etc.)
- jarred jalapenos, or other things that give big flavour for size of package.
- jams (as another person said)
- condiments
- instant gravy packages (best are add water only)
- dried fruit
- nuts / seeds
- anything would like to eat at home.
Another thing to think of is stuff that kids can cook themselves: ie Kraft Dinner, meal in a can, etc. We don't like to think of it, but families in poverty often have somewhat parentified kids out of necessity. Parents have shifts that overlap, oldest kids help the youngest until an adult is home. Foods that they can make easily by themselves.