Food Bank

I volunteer at a food bank. Please find one local to you and get a box of food! The more people the local food banks serve, the more funding they receive.

The food banks are not need based. You fill out a form for demographics and that's it.

If the food bank is sponsored by a church, you do not need to be a member of the church to participate.

I visited a food bank recently. I signed up online, and told them how many people are in my household. I drove up at the designated time and the volunteers placed a box in my back seat.

I got fresh produce, fresh local bread, including a sourdough loaf, bagged salad, hummus and a can of tomatoes.

Some food banks also distribute pet food. The food bank where I volunteer has a dedicated pet person. She gave me kibble and wet food for Thunder Cat.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2023 10:42AM by HonnyBrown.

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you can also dial 211 for free local community resources. free legal aid, housing help, job training, etc.

shopping north west PA and south west ny

Good post

If you feel bad doing this, you could always donate the non-perishables back to a different food bank.

I think they only usually take perishables from grocery stores and food companies because of the quality issues of possible spoiled food. I could be wrong.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/09/2023 10:10PM by wrosie.

It is still an adventure to do this. What is available at any given timebmight not line up per se or with on-hand groceries. for typical recipes. So be creative!

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

@cooldude581 wrote:

you can also dial 211 for free local community resources. free legal aid, housing help, job training, etc.

It's not free, some hard-working American pays for everything you get for "free".

@tstewart3 wrote:

@cooldude581 wrote:

you can also dial 211 for free local community resources. free legal aid, housing help, job training, etc.

It's not free, some hard-working American pays for everything you get for "free".

When I was working and had a little money, I gave groceries to the food pantry that now provides some groceries to my family. Undoubtedly, we are receiving more than I gave.

I am grateful for those who are giving now.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/2023 08:05PM by Shop-et-al.

You can also check out food communes in your area. These are groups that rescue food that would otherwise end up in a trash can. Some are completely free and some are donation or volunteer based. It's really eye opening how much edible food is wasted due to politics, best by dates and other policies.

@foodluvr wrote:

You can also check out food communes in your area. These are groups that rescue food that would otherwise end up in a trash can. Some are completely free and some are donation or volunteer based. It's really eye opening how much edible food is wasted due to politics, best by dates and other policies.

I remember there was a food challenge show where several chefs had to cook gourmet meals in, NYC I think. All they could use was discarded food from the trash or what vendors could not sell because "it didn't look pretty". Bobby Flay, Michael Simon, Ann Burrel and Alex Guarnaschelli.

[www.foodnetwork.com]

Also found these when I was looking for the show

On Hulu - Wasted! The Story of Food Waste (2017)

New TV Show 'SCRAPS' Teaches Home Cooks How To Turn Food Waste Into Dinner
[www.greenmatters.com]

THE COOKING COMPETITION SHOW ADDRESSING AT-HOME FOOD WASTE: NETFLIX’S BEST LEFTOVERS EVER!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2023 11:28PM by wrosie.

I'm sorry, I can't do dumpster food. It was a trend for a moment and maybe it still is.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

I donate to my local food pantry but I didn't know about the funding thing.

Most people don't know what it takes to run a food bank or get bags of food to people who want/need it, myself included. When I first became a volunteer, I covered all days and shifts. It was a lot!

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

The major problem is that the people that could probably most benefit from a hand up are too proud to ask for it. Those that expect it, complain that they aren't given enough. Just IMHO, but from what I've witnessed.

Sometimes, there is a bounty! Wow! One week we got a veritable ham feast with a huge ham and traditional veggies. At other times, there is substantially less food available. Think the key is to incorporate whatever is and not expect an equivalent haul on every visit.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

they and their dependents will eat humble pie if they are to prideful to ask or get help. its a process but eventually people get so desprate that they are willing. then they learn that most people that do reach out are just people too. best learning is experienceing.

shopping north west PA and south west ny

I think every area is probably different on the various. The food banks in our area were completely running out of food during covid, and the lines would be a couple or more miles long. Some people have had a really hard time. Although there have been times when I did need the help, and got it, I would tend not to go to the food banks or ask for other assistance if I didn't actually need it. There have been too many shortages and too much need to take things for granted in my area.

However, I have also taken advantage of various co-op opportunities. Interesting, or maybe sad, a few years back, one of the churches in our area got onto a co-op type program. It was purely on a co-op type basis; however, I think it was the way it was marketed, they flat went under. Not enough people used the service for them to keep it up. They had restaurant quality meats, vegetables, desserts, sides, etc., and it was a mega good deal -- like wholesale prices. But the way they presented it as "combatting hunger" or some such, it really did feel like humble pie to even use the service, and folks just plain didn't buy it. They went under.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?
"Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."
-- Abraham Lincoln

The food bank I donate (cash) to on a regular basis requires an interview and submitting of financial information in order to receive food.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

The food bank where I volunteer is not need based. As a matter of fact, some of our clients are food hoarders.

@wrosie wrote:

The major problem is that the people that could probably most benefit from a hand up are too proud to ask for it. Those that expect it, complain that they aren't given enough. Just IMHO, but from what I've witnessed.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

The food bank that I went to provided produce and fresh bread!

@Shop-et-al wrote:

Sometimes, there is a bounty! Wow! One week we got a veritable ham feast with a huge ham and traditional veggies. At other times, there is substantially less food available. Think the key is to incorporate whatever is and not expect an equivalent haul on every visit.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Think the one here has two parts, one need-based and the other for everyone. ? We are eligible for one weekly visit in which bag/box of allowed quantities may be had. For example, you may have one type of meat per week. They break down boxes of packets such as hot chocolate and give two packets per customer. I find that too sweet, but hubby still likes it. Every day, they give fresh bread. They do something else for which even we have a little too much money. It's okay.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

That sounds like the Federal program. They require that information.

@KathyG wrote:

The food bank I donate (cash) to on a regular basis requires an interview and submitting of financial information in order to receive food.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

This is an independent organization open to people who live in specific school districts. I don't know enough about them to know if they follow Federal guidelines.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

That sounds like the Federal program. They require that information.

@KathyG wrote:

The food bank I donate (cash) to on a regular basis requires an interview and submitting of financial information in order to receive food.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

Prior to COVID, my church hosted the food bank and different churches rotated making breakfast each month. You could tell the people who were truly in need. The wore the weight of the world on their shoulders and were very grateful.

And then there were the hoarders. They felt entitled to "free" food, and whatever they received was not enough.

@wrosie wrote:

The major problem is that the people that could probably most benefit from a hand up are too proud to ask for it. Those that expect it, complain that they aren't given enough. Just IMHO, but from what I've witnessed.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

all the food banks in my city require personal information and identification (DL, id card, or SNAP card) to recieve food. but you can get approved and pick up food that day. the process when i did it in 2010 took about 30 minutes.

the soup kitchens to eat a meal that day that sometimes have extra food to take home dont require any information you just line up

shopping north west PA and south west ny

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/21/2023 03:00PM by cooldude581.

My food bank does breakfast. Participants can either eat in or take out. We serve grits, turkey bacon, sausage, tater tots and eggs.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

I participated in a food co-op at a nearby church. They gave out meat, which was cool.

@GinnyLynn wrote:

I think every area is probably different on the various. The food banks in our area were completely running out of food during covid, and the lines would be a couple or more miles long. Some people have had a really hard time. Although there have been times when I did need the help, and got it, I would tend not to go to the food banks or ask for other assistance if I didn't actually need it. There have been too many shortages and too much need to take things for granted in my area.

However, I have also taken advantage of various co-op opportunities. Interesting, or maybe sad, a few years back, one of the churches in our area got onto a co-op type program. It was purely on a co-op type basis; however, I think it was the way it was marketed, they flat went under. Not enough people used the service for them to keep it up. They had restaurant quality meats, vegetables, desserts, sides, etc., and it was a mega good deal -- like wholesale prices. But the way they presented it as "combatting hunger" or some such, it really did feel like humble pie to even use the service, and folks just plain didn't buy it. They went under.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

I both volunteered at and visited a food bank yesterday. The food bank that I visited gave out lots of bread, like gourmet bread. They also had meats.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

Food pantries are awesome.

I wish there was a way to get the food to people who do not have cars to drive. We know most people who are receiving SNAP benefits work, so they don't have the availability to pick it up during the day.

I always wondered how we could get a food truck to be a mobile food pantry to reach the people who are unable to drive and wait in lines at the pantries.

Evaluating and mailing packages since 1994

One of our volunteers drives a big truck. She makes deliveries.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

@RobinMarie wrote:

I always wondered how we could get a food truck to be a mobile food pantry to reach the people who are unable to drive and wait in lines at the pantries.

When I lived in NYC, one of the food pantries on my side of town had a station wagon or SUV at their disposal and volunteers would bring the food over to a particular corner and set up a folding table. It was a mobile soup kitchen, rather than a pantry. They always had sandwiches pre-made and wrapped, a big pot of hot soup, fresh fruit, small bottles of apple juice and water, and some treats. Anyone could walk up and be given food. They would park at different corners several days a week.
.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2023 03:41PM by shopnyc.

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