I already donate regularly to the food pantry but I think I will just increase my donation for this month....a nice suggestion, Linda C.

jude

Some cured meats can go without refrigeration, like summer sausage. Not sure if that's what you're looking for though.

Wow I didn't know about Maytag being bought. I have been on the mailing list for the place your husband ran since you mentioned it years ago!

I love this idea! We already donate to one food pantry in the area, but I am going to put together another special box of needed items as a special Thank You. Linda - this is the list our local food pantry published, items that are most in demand.

⢠Spaghetti Sauce
⢠Pasta
⢠Peanut Butter & Jelly
⢠Mac & Cheese
⢠Canned Soup
⢠Canned Meats
⢠Canned Fruits or Vegetables
⢠Coffee/Tea
⢠Juice Boxes
⢠Cereal

Thanks again Shambo and I think the idea of paying it forward is a wonderful one!

Alexa

Tell me more about the cd's Linda sound very exciting!

If you say it was special it certainly must be and I love the idea of helping out the food bank. So in your honour Shambo I will put together an additional basket and take it in this week.

Linda , for me it will be infant formula, pablum, whole grain cereals, pasta, peanut butter, nutella, canned salmon and canned tuna.

Lets all pay it forward, we are so blessed.

Thanks Shambo , thanks Linda for the kick start!

I would suggest waiting until January or February to make your donation. While the holiday spirit of giving to others abounds, December donations to our local food banks are the highest of the year. Come January, they drop off drastically right along with seasonal employment, which increases the demand.

At the pantry where I volunteer, the #1 most desirable item is cans of the chunky-style soups, especially the beef ones.

Linda, you are inspiring today! What a great idea...I'm there. To the peanut butter and canned tuna, canned chicken is good for casseroles, soup, etc. I love your lists so far, and will be taking it with me to the store next time I go.

Thank Linda and Sue!

Wonderful idea LindaC!

Donation ideas (protein sources):
Peanut butter
Tuna/salmon
Processed "cheese" food (I know, yuck, but it works)
Dry beans/peas
Canned soups and chili
Nuts/seeds

Deanna

And don't forget pet food. The food shelf I donate to is always looking for pet food. Canned and dry.

From experience, I know that things that need prep liked ry beans....and even turkey are not in demand. Thanks for the heads up on the chunky soups. the last "basket" I made up was breakfast of dry pancake mix, bottled OJ, syrup and shelf stable milk...and another meal of pasta, jarred meat sauce and cheese...as well as some canned fruit and cookies.
Our food pantry doesn't accept dog food, but the animal rescue league does. I need to take the food that the princess has rejected out there.
Cookebook....the Maytag Dairy cheese plant is totally separate from the washing machine company...it has NOT been sold and is doing business as usual.

So now I will compile a few more meals that can be stored...
I hear what you are saying Ruthanna....but our pantry stores excess food....and if it's not excess and will be needed now....why then it's good that we give now....as well as later.
Linda C

Bags of onions & potatoes, bottles of oil & vinegar.
The canned meats/fish. Cans of baked beans as well as other beans. Very thoughtful reminder during this season.
Also toys for kids.
I donated my stuff today.

I received my video's today also and I think that the idea to donate to the food pantry is good. I was going to do that anyway but will double up.

I also won't forget the need in the new year. Heck, our news stations also remind us around here.

Nancy

Great idea! I will plan to get something to our food bank also. Ours always asks for the pull-top small cans of fruit and soup, of course. My company donated 17 turkey breasts three days before Thanksgiving. I always feel good about this.

Teresa

I'm donating here at this time because places are really begging for food. They have been showing empty shelves on TV. I regularly give food at church where we keep a large building of food for those in need. Because Shambo has been so nice to send out these fabulous CD's and done it so quickly I intend to give to another place also. I've learned a great place to buy this kind of items is at a store who has BOGO each week. The food adds up fast this way.

And whether Shambo asked for it or not, I'm definitely sending her the postage she paid to send mine out.

Thank you again Shambo!

Beverly

Linda, what a wonderful idea to thank Sue for her generous gift.

For those donating, please check with the organization first for some guidelines. Many do not want anything in glass like a jar of Ragu sauce due to breakage or fresh produce, due to spoilage factor.

Keep one dish/pot items, like the chunky soup, canned stews or chilis in the list. Too often recipents only have a hot plate to work with and it gives a decent meal without too much trouble. Instant coffee and teas are also good, along with canned or powdered milk.

And if you can, toss in a "treat" like chocolate bars or cookies. Everyone needs a little sweetness in thier life when times are tough.

My dentist always give me trial size toothpaste and brushes, so I toss those in the food bag too. And dishsoap too.

Sue, again thank you.

Linda, what a lovely idea. I was totally surprised when I started reading your original post. I even read it and some other posts to my husband. Everyone's contributions will make such a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

I'm touched by the kind thoughts & words expressed.

Sue

Linda, I also think that a donation to a food bank to honor Sue's generosity is a wonderful idea, thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. And Peppi you are right about checking with the organization for guidelines. I looked at our area food bank website and found lists for food needed for holiday baskets and everyday food needs. I was also very surprised to look at our banks funds donation page. It is amazing how much more they can buy with a cash donation, due to wholesalers absorbing a great deal of the cost, than we can buy at the store for the same amount. It shows four items that typically could be purchased for $10. and what they can do with $10. (I stopped counting at 40 items). Now most of us could make ten dollars go farther than their example of a retail food purchase, but no where near as much as they can buy.

I'm linking that page from our food bank as an example, I'm sure most area food banks have a similar page. So if you are creating a donation from your pantry that is great, but if you have to shop for the food you might want to consider a funds donation.

Peppi, I donate the brushes and toothpaste and mouthwash from the dentist too, along with soaps and shampoo. I am always saddened by the struggle that so many have to meet basic needs. Each year a group that I belong to donates new hats, scarves, and gloves to a shelter for women and children - it's our alternative to a grab bag gift exchange between the members, a win win as far as I'm concerned - we each have the fun of shopping for a gift and wrapping it and know it goes to someone who really needs it.

Sue, your generosity is being spread all over the country, and I am happy to be both a recipient and a donor. Thank you so much,

Lee

Here is a link that might be useful: What a food bank can do with $10.

Totally great idea. I too was wondering what I could do, and pay it forward sounds fantastic. Our food bank lists these things as specific needs:

The most needed items for emergency food boxes include:
÷Peanut Butter
÷Baby Food
÷Canned Meat
÷Canned Vegetables
÷Canned Fruit
÷Mac N Cheese
÷Cereal

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around "canned meat", excpet tuna fish. Could it work for your other protein? It may or may not be what you and I would pick, but there are plenty of recipients that would. Just a thought.

I was wondering about including vitamins - like Flintstones Complete. I guess I can call the Food Bank when they open, but do any of you have thoughts or experience with adding vitamins?

Alexa

A good place to check for canned meats are grocery stores that cater to whatever ethnic minority is dominant in your area. Around here, we've mostly Hispanics, and the Mexican grocery stores carry a variety of canned, stewed meats.

I know we all joke about SPAM, but for folks who, for whatever reason, are without a kitchen, it is a protein source that can be stored easily and eaten cold if need be. Most grocery stores will have (near the canned tuna) cans of corned beef and chicken as well, not to mention potted meat spreads.

Something often forgotten is that many of us have fruit on our trees we often have trouble giving away. Food banks may or may not take it, but there are other places to donate food. Locally, there is a shelter for battered women and their kids. They're more than happy to get boxes full of seasonal fruit and they have a distribution system to get it to other shelters in the area if they can't use it all. The children they shelter rarely get fresh fruit and it's a treat. I pick several of my elderly customer's orange and lemon trees this time of year. They have volunteers to squeeze the lemons and freeze the juice for Summer lemonade.

Our Food Bank asks that we try and think of the living conditions of the people who need this food. No sense giving them salad dressing because they likely don't have the fixings for a salad. As Peppi mentions, many have only a hot plate. Additionally they have limited cooking skills and quite frankly with all they must deal with, energy.

Alex our Food Bank asks for good formula and baby foods before supplements. Also nutritious food snacks like granola bars etc. They say the children are much more likely to get their vitamins if it's in the form of food.

Not that anyone here would do this but, they also ask that people not use the Food Bank as a place to dump your expired food products. Can you imagine doing that?

Our Food Bank works with our local grocery stores to put together prepacked grocery bags. They come in increments of $5 and are stacked at the end of the check out aisles. You stick it in your cart, pay for it and deposit at the Food Bank station on the other side of the checkout.......great marketing! LOL

I think this is a wonderful idea-- love the thought of paying Shambo's good deed forward!

When we did weekly food pantry drives one of the biggest necessities was an inexpensive can opener. It's cheap and easy to include. Remember to put in some foods that can be eaten cold or w/out cooking facilities. Single serving packets are always helpful for "street" food.

I also think it's a wonderful idea and I'm happy to participate. I just got an email today from our Senior Food Program, their state funding was cut just like everything else and they need donations.

I do give to our local food pantry, the protein sources most often requested is peanut butter and canned meats or fish, included the oft maligned but happily accepted SPAM.

Thankfully, our local pantry has freezer capacity, so they will take fresh meat. Since so many people hunt here, they donate a lot of venison and most of the local processors will process for free if it's a donation to the food pantry.

Annie

I'll join everyone to donate, too. I have some personal items I've been thinking of donating to the local women's shelter, but haven't gotten around to. I'm going to get off my tail and do it. Plus some $ to the food bank. I agree that donating money does a lot to help them.

Sally

Great idea Linda, and Lee, thanks for the reminder that the bank can buy more with my dollar than they can.

I'd also like to donate paper utensils. I have heard as well that recipients need pop-top, ready to eat items, and I can imagine some don't even have kitchens or access to one.

I don't buy food for the food bank but often pick up a Food for Families ticket in the check out line at the store close to me for whatever amount suits me at the time. It's rung up and the store gives the money to the food bank.

Occasionally some organization will hang a bag on my door asking for nonperishable food donations on a certain day. This happened recently and I donated what seemed appropriate in my cupboard. I don't use much in the way of prepared canned food so what I find is usually ingredients for recipes like coconut milk or water chestnuts. I don't send odd items that can't be consumed directly.

Here is a link that might be useful: Food for Families store program.

I made my donation to the food bank here yesterday and it makes me happy to think that while I am enjoying Greek food someone else will be enjoying meals they might otherwise not have had at all.

Lee