Food Bank Donations

Hunger Action Month, coming well before the winter holiday surge, is a great time to donate food to your local food bank. When I volunteered recently at Second Harvest, I learned some basic guidelines:

• Fresh produce is welcome, as there is never enough, even in areas blessed with partnerships with local farms
• More than a hint of rust on a canned good will send it to the trash can.
• Large dents or any bulging in a can will also turn it into trash
• Sell by dates are checked, and some items (like baby food) must still be new, while others can be as much as 5 years past the date.
• Boxed goods with small rips or tears can still be used, if there is an interior bag as well

Volunteers sort food bank donations

Food safety is a top priority; and staff always stand by to answer questions from volunteer sorters.

Learning how your local food bank works, and following its guidelines, save time and money for everyone.

Volunteering is a great hands-on lesson; but a website visit or phone call can bring you up to speed, as well.