What is the best food for donation?

If you are thinking of food donating, you should understand that not all products are equally useful and necessary. Some foods are really needed by food banks and others may arise problems. Don’t forget that these items are to be stored and kept for some time, then delivered to local food pantries and it’s necessary to make sure that food stays fresh and good during all this process.

There’re a few categories of food recommended for donation:

  • Protein and dairy - fish, shelf-stable dairy, vegetables, and fruit. Dried fruit and canned vegetables are even better.
  • Culturally significant food such as kosher, halal, and vegan.
  • Canned or cooked food for families with no kitchens or no houses.
  • Pantry items - salt, sugar, spices, herbs, sauces, ketchup, and other things necessary for cooking.

Below we’ll provide a list of food items most required by Food Banks, Food Pantries, and communities on the whole.

Most Needed Food Items for Donations

Food donating is a good action worth respect. But don’t donate whatever you want. You’d better check what items food banks really need. Look through the list below. If you choose to give away any of the staff mentioned in the list, you won’t go wrong.

Any time you decide you shop for groceries to donate, including the following items into your shopping list. Your neighbors may badly need them:

  • Plastic jars of apple sauce
  • Canned beans rich in protein and fiber
  • Non-perishable canned chicken
  • Canned tuna and salmon rich in vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and protein.
  • Canned SPAM or ham easy to eat and make you full for a long time
  • Canned vegetables with low sodium
  • Olive and canola cooking oils
  • Crackers, granola bars, and other portable snacks
  • Dried herbs and spices for cooking
  • Canned or dried fruit
  • Lunchboxes
  • Nuts, peanut butter, cookies for kids
  • Pasta, rice, whole-grain cereal
  • Warm lunches of soup, or stew

Top Things You’d Better Not Donate To A Food Bank

Though Food Banks gladly accept donations from local communities, they have some restrictions of what items to take. There’re certain reasons for refusing these items. For example, quickly expired food, food with no package, items in glass containers, spoiled or rotten food, etc.

Check the foods you need to avoid as they will hardly be accepted for donation by Food Banks.

  • Junk food
  • Foods in glass or cellophane packaging
  • Items that are hard to open with no special equipment
  • Items that spoil easily without refrigeration
  • Foods that are past their expiration dates
  • Leftovers, baked food, or anything made in personal kitchens since their ingredients can’t be verified
  • Food with damaged packaging

Where can I donate food near me?

Now, when you know what to donate, it’s high time to take action. Enter your ZIP code and look for Food Banks to donate food near you. Or use Google – surf for “Where to donate food near me” – and get a list of locations accepting food donations. Let’s help to fight hunger together.