Donate Non-perishables Items
While fresh foods are an important but non-perishables items are a vital resource. We suggest you select shelf-stable food with the lowest saturated fats and refined carbohydrates, please consider three things: nutrition, usefulness, and quality vs. quantity.
1. Nutrition
It is very important to provide people with the healthiest food possible. Here are some suggestions for each of the categories:
- Canned meat/fish
- Peanut butter
- Bags or boxes of pasta/rice
- Pasta sauce
- Canned fruit/vegetables
- Cereal
- Baby formula
- Baby food
- Bean & Rice
- Cookng Oil
- Homemade items
- Expired food (including baby food)
- Products containing alcohol
- Open packages of food
It’s helpful to think about how practical your donation will be. While we encourage you to give what you can, it’s most beneficial to provide our clients with food they will actually use. Remember, if that canned item has been sitting in the back of the pantry for an unknown amount of time, it’s probably best to leave that donation at home. Canned fish and other meats are great forms of protein in a longer lasting, useful form.
3. Quality vs. Quantity
We encourage you to give the best food possible, but also realize you also have a budget.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what food you give and how much to donate. However, just remember that your donations are a fundamental part of all food banks goal; to provide the healthiest, most useful food to those that need it most.
Suggestions provided by Hunger is Unacceptable (Capital Area Food Banks)
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