We purchased one more item

[question everything]

Last week on ABC News, it was suggested that, when we purchase our groceries, to get one more non=perishable item and put it away in a box. When that box is filled, to carry it to a local food bank. For most of us, it is assumed, one more item would not be a hardship.

I picked a chicken rice "family size" can of soup. Though at $2.50 it is not that much of a bargain..

Next time we will probably get a can of tuna, or a box of spaghetti. But am open to suggestions from DUers.

[NightWatcher]

1. try getting 3 extra items. 1 for the food bank and 2 for your survival kit

hurricane season is coming in these parts, plus if trucks stop running, the groceries wont walk themselves to the store.

[question everything]

20. Or tornadoes here, with yesterday a stark reminder

though yesterday I read a story about survivalists that made my skin crawl.

Trying to live off their land, tossing away TV and... stoking on guns for the day when there is no longer oil, or food..

[The Diest]

31. Not only that, some are saying if there is one thing you can do,

buy groceries and stock up. They are going to go through the roof because of gas prices. So buy anything non-perishable if you can afford it.

[yellowdogintexas]

2. dried beans, rice, canned black, pinto, white or red beans nt

[gateley]

3. What a great idea!

It's too overwhelming for many of us to consider buying an entire bag of groceries for the food bank - I think most of us can handle one more item. Thanks for posting this!

[MercutioATC]

4. Another sugestion: Buy TWO extra items...

...if you want to give to the food bank that's great, but also put away an item for yourself.

There's a lot of truth to the statement that "charity begins at home". It's great to help others, but the best thing you can do is to be prepared yourself. Whether it's something as mundane as losing your job, as short-lived as a week-long blizzard, or as extreme as worldwide economic collapse, there's a great benefit to preparing...if only in small ways.

[NeedleCast]

5. Pasta is good

Dry pasta or beans have a long shelf life, and are fairly nutritious and filling. Pancake mix (try to find stuff that requires a minimum of ingredients, the "just add water" variety) is good. Long-shelf life juices are usually good (Capri-sun). Boxes of mashed potatoes or casserole type potatoes (scalloped, for example), and again, shoot for varieties that require a minimum of ingredients.

[question everything]

9. Thank you. I sometimes - when the post office collects bags -

purchase a tuna helper or a hamburger helper... not sure how helpful these items are.

[NanceGreggs]

6. The food banks here ...

... always ask for powdered or canned baby formula - an item most people don't think of, and is therefore usually in short supply.

[question everything]

10. Great idea! Thanks!

Not having babies at home I would not normally think about them.

[NanceGreggs]

17. Same here ...

... and most people don't think of it because your first inclination is to buy food that will feed a "family', rather than one particular member of the family.

Once the food banks here started making it known that this was a much needed item, the donations immediately started coming in.

Another idea - if your local supermarkets/food stores are approachable and cooperative ...

A lot of the grocery stores here in TO have large bins right at the exit doors for food bank donations. That way, you can pick up and extra item or two, and drop them into the bin on your way out. The food banks then come and empty out the bins when they're full. Obviously, the more convenient you make it for people to donate, the more likely they are to do so.

[CC]

18. Our local grocery store does this

to and the food go to the local food bank. I like this as I know I am helping people in my area and since we are in a rural area there is not much around for those in need.
The local food bank will also take garden extras and are always so happy to get fresh vegetables and fruit. They do not stay around long at all.

[Finn Polke]

16. Thanks

Powdered baby formula, such a good idea to add to a good idea. Thank you, and the OP.

[flvegan]

7. That's a great idea!

I'm in. I think that instead of one item, I'll make a pre-set amount that I can spend (call it $2.50, based on your OP). That way, I'll still be attempting to maximize my "donation budget" and hopefully give more.

Thanks for posting this.

:thumbsup:

[Lorien]

11. Publix sometimes offers a week's worth of groceries that one can buy

for a special discounted price for homeless or needy families. They are usually on a table in the center aisle near the registers. You just choose the one you can afford, check out with it, and Publix delivers it to the agency that will distribute it to the hungry.

[flvegan]

12. Is that the filled paper bag display things?

I've noticed them, but never paid attention (strict eating habits and all that). I'll check that out, thanks.

[Lorien]

19. Yep, those are them! There's a list on the side explaining what they contain

maybe you could persuade them to make up some vegetarian bags. Nevertheless, they are a great deal for the buck.

[Lorien]

25. Just went there this afternoon. The current bags are for no-kill animal

shelters! Publix "save a pet" effort is going on all week.

[flvegan]

32. No bloody way!

Thanks, I'll be there tomorrow, and I'll have a quick chat with the manager.

[Saturday]

8. Peanut butter. nt

[Warpy]

13. Poor folks can get plenty of starch, that's cheap food

Protein and vitamin rich foods are a little more difficult. Also, too many processed foods have huge amounts of salt, contributing to the early development of hypertension. Foods that are designed to sit on the shelf are the worst foods out there, generally speaking. Shit diets keep poor folks feeling sick all the time.

Although I do give tinned soups as a way of getting veg to them, I tend to favor tinned fruits and veggies, always keeping an eye on the salt. I get the 2 pack of peanut butter at Costco with an eye toward giving one to the food bank. Pasta sauces in the jar are also great, just keep an eye on the salt. Packages of dried beans are also good. Boxes of powdered milk are great since it can be used in cooking and to stretch whole milk. Ready to eat cereals are OK, but stick to the whole grain ones.

I live in a very poor state. Even at my poorest, I left the food banks to people who were even poorer than I was, and there are plenty of them around here in my own neighborhood. I lived on whole grains, beans, and root veggies. I would have loved to have been given things like tinned fruit and tinned tomatoes or pasta sauces.

[question everything]

27. I know. And this is why I try to get pasta or dried beans

that, one hopes, are not processed to death.

This is really adding insult to injury: the poor often live on really bad diets. See how McDonald's has been promoting a dollar meal (or something), and you know it would not be healthy.

[Warpy]

30. I just know that in my recent 3 1/2 years of unpleasantness

that what I missed were spaghetti sauces and the veggies to go into them to stretch them over a week or more and fruit, which I would have been grateful to get canned. I did get some Wally's store brand raisins, but I think I'd have mugged somebody I saw carrying a can of sliced peaches.

Fortunately for the people who were carrying around cans of sliced peaches, my vision was failing at the time.

[juno jones]

14. All sorts of dry stuff

Rice, flour, potato flakes, pasta, dry milk, dry beans, sugar and salt.

Don't forget oil. I buy olive oil a gallon at a time at the local restaurant supply (about $11.00). It lasts me a year so would last thru an emergency. Ghee if you can get it is great too, it has a shelf life of many years and can substitute for butter.

Canned meats such as chicken and tuna. Canned veggies. I also have on hand a number of jars of 'base' and bouillion so as to make soup stock and lend flavor to rice and beans. Canned soups, etc.

And, as much as possible, water. We try to keep several 5-gal water containers in rotation all the time (we have to use bottled water for everything here, we're on a nasty well that belongs to someone else who refuses to treat...) Investing in a good water filtration system isn't bad either.

I'm sure there are other things. :) Good shopping!

PS: I also grow my own herbs. Herbs as simple as oregano and rosemary can freshen flavors and make things more palatable.

[MercutioATC]

15. Be careful of the oil...opened oil goes rancid in 4-6 months.

...and, unlike many other foods, you can't tell.

http://www.ochef.com/64.htm

[juno jones]

21. That's why i mentioned ghee.

It has a shelf life that is much longer than other oils.

I basically keep rotating my oil thru, but have a sealed bottle that sits away 'in case'. This too gets rotated every 6 months or so. It will not keep indefinitely, but if an 'emergency' goes to 'indefinitely' we're all poo at that point.

Good point tho. :)

[question everything]

28. These are OK for my home, but not for the food bank

Oil can get rancid and, when we lived in Florida, we would keep flour and sugar inside the fridge.

We do the same thing with water jugs. Which is why I was dismayed to find out that COSTCO carries only small bottles of water. Sam's - where we used to visit - did.

[patriotvoice]

22. Make your own canned goods

Your local food bank may be picky about this, but you can pickle, can, and dehydrate raw ingredients. These are often less expensive (as you can make them in bulk), and they also offer an excellent opportunity for "family time": teaching kids to cook improves their hand-eye coordination, sense of ordering and proportion, instruction following, and gives them valuable parent-to-child interaction.

If you don't know how to pickle or can, a good, thick cookbook such as "Better Home and Gardens New Cookbook (Bridal Edition)" offer step by step instructions. You can pickle cucumbers, of course, but feel free to experiment with other vegetables: for variety, try orange cauliflower!

If you have a bread machine with a jam setting, make your own fresh jams and jellies. While you're at it, make a loaf or two and take it to the food bank.

Dehydration is also very easy to do, and an electric dehydrator is well worth the investment: from jerky to fruit, you're limited only by your imagination.

An added benefit is that you can begin using these techniques in your own kitchen. Coupled with fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats from local farmers, you can eat healthfully, keep your money flowing locally, and not spend any more than you would at a big name grocery.

[patriotvoice]

23. Scouting for Food

Another avenue, which you may have seen, is the Scouting for Food program. Cub and Boy Scouts in your area may leave bags at your door, with a note (or a personal message, if you are home), that they are collecting donations for food. Several days to one week later, the Scouts will return and carry your donation to a local food bank. All you need do is fill the bag with what you can.

100% of collected items go directly to the food bank. Additional information may be found here:
http://www.scoutingforfood.net/

[sandnsea]

24. fruit in its own juice

every single time. You never get enough fruit when you're poor.

[question everything]

29. Will remember this, thanks (nt)

[ColbertWatcher]

26. That's a brilliant idea! n/t

[ThoughtCriminal]

33. We keep a small supply of non-perishables for emergencies

Like getting snowed in or whatever. Long before it expires, we donate the contents to our local food bank and re-stock.

[democrank]

34. Excellent idea.

Our local supermarket has a board with three paper choices located at each checkout counter. Customer can peel off a $1.00, $3.00 or $5.00 ticket and include that price with their purchases. Money is guaranteed to go directly to the local food pantry.