Making food donations matter

Most people donate to food pantries by giving away extra canned food from their kitchen or buying a few items on sale at the grocery store. While great that people want to help, these kinds of donations aren't always as useful as we might think. To make our donations count, we need to understand what helps these families the most.

Take boxed macaroni and cheese, for example. Many people donate it to food banks because it seems like an easy meal. But families often can't make it because they don't have milk and butter at home. The same problem happens with other boxed foods like Rice-A-Roni or Hamburger Helper. These meals need extra ingredients like cooking oil or ground beef to make them, and food banks don't always have these items to give out. This means families might get boxes of food they can't use to make a meal. But canned meat and canned soup can go far and stay shelf-stable for long.

To make food donations really help people, we should think about giving everything needed to make a complete meal. For example, if you give canned food, remember to donate can openers too. Other options include donating caps with pop tops to them. Many families don't own can openers, so they can't open the canned food they receive. Or if you donate peanut butter and jelly, think about giving bread too. Food banks often run out of bread quickly, so families might get peanut butter and jelly but have nothing to put it on.

The best things to donate are often items we use every day without thinking about it. Boxed milk that doesn't need to be refrigerated is really important because kids can use it with cereal. Food banks get lots of cereal, but without milk, is it really a complete breakfast? Simple cooking items like oil, flour, sugar, and spices are also super helpful. When families have these basic ingredients, they can turn plain food into tasty meals. Even simple things like salt and pepper can make a big difference - they help turn boring food into something families can enjoy eating together.

Fresh foods are important, but many people don't think to donate them. Things like fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meat are very helpful, and food banks can usually give them to families right away before they go bad. During spring and summer, you can also donate packets of seeds. This is great because families who have some space to garden can grow their own vegetables, which helps them get fresh food for a longer time.

Some donations can help people feel more normal during hard times. Things like coffee and tea might not seem important, but they can make someone's day better. Giving cake mix and frosting means parents can still make their kid's birthday cake. These simple things might seem small, but they can make families happy and help them feel included, even when times are hard.

Things that aren't food can be just as important to donate. Soap for washing clothes and dishes costs a lot of money, but people really need these items to stay clean and healthy. Also, items like pads and tampons are really important to donate. These products are expensive, and most help programs don't pay for them, which makes it hard for many families to buy them. Even though these aren't food items, they help people a lot.

When you donate food, try to think about giving items that can make a complete meal. Food banks often receive pasta and sauce. You could give canned tuna and crackers, which make an easy lunch. Or you could donate things like Stove Top Stuffing, which is quick to make and doesn't need many extra ingredients. This way, families can make complete meals with what you give them.

Don't forget the accessories. Consider donating items like tinfoil or foil pans for people who cook from a woodstove. Butcher paper can allow a person to store meat in a freezer. Eating utensils, whether metal or plastic, help.

The best donations come from people who understand that helping hungry families isn't just about giving them any food. It's about making sure they have everything they need to make real meals. Before you donate, think about what you would need to cook a full meal with the food you're giving.

Christian M. Hartley is a 40-year Alaskan resident with over 25 years of public safety experience and public service. He runs a freelance business, Big Lake Writer, from home in Big Lake that he shares with his wife of 19 years and their three teenage sons.