![]() ![]() A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't consider buying it new, don't donate it.īaked goods: Similar to leftovers, since food banks can’t confirm how your baked goods were made or their ingredients, they can’t be donated. To ensure the safety of the families, our food bank cannot accept leftovers or anything made in personal kitchens because we cannot verify the ingredients or preparation process.įood with packaging concerns: This includes food with damaged packaging such as dented or bloated cans, packaging that is already open, or even items in glass containers, which can shatter and cause food safety concerns for any other food they’re stored near. Leftovers: While it may be tempting to want to share the bountiful food from big meals like Thanksgiving, it’s best to keep leftovers for family. Chances are, you don’t eat food that’s past its “use-by” or “sell-by” date, so avoid donating anything past those dates to food banks as it could be unsafe to eat. While an individual can’t donate a bunch of bananas or a frozen turkey, our food bank does work directly with farmers, retailers, community gardens and other companies to source healthy, fresh food for donation.Įxpired food: When considering what to donate, think about what you’d be comfortable serving your family. Items needing refrigeration: Food like produce, dairy, and meat can spoil easily. We've broken it all down into this handy list: ![]() But there are other categories of food that you should not donate. The number one rule to remember is this: if your donation is something that has a limited shelf life if not refrigerated, it is best not to donate it. Speaking of refrigeration, that leads to… What NOT to donate: Even specialty foods like olive oil, dressings or marinades can be helpful if they don’t need to be refrigerated. So, check your pantry out and go from there. Families struggling with hunger often can’t afford the staples that we normally have stocked at home. If you’re still stumped about what to donate, just look in your own pantry. Specifically, food banks often need items like:Īdditionally, our food bank can accept personal care and household items, since many families struggle to afford these items and they are not covered by other food assistance programs like SNAP. And remember, only donate food that hasn’t reached its “sell-by” date yet. What does that mean? Basically, any food that is “shelf-stable” or nonperishable – you can keep it in your pantry and it won’t go bad. You can donate dry and canned food donations. Want to make a donation of food? That’s great! Whether you’re starting a food drive or planning to grab a few extra items for donation while out grocery shopping, there are a couple things you should know about what you can donate and what we cannot accept.
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