Over 48 million people in the U.S. go hungry every year. Hunger effects people of all ages, including children who often face the brunt of the impact. Without proper food, children are less likely to excel in school and are more likely to get involved in at-risk behaviors like drug and alcohol abuse. Here are some ways you can support your local food bank, so you can give back to your community, while empowering children in need.
Volunteer Your Time and Skills
Volunteering your time is one of the best ways to contribute to your local food bank. Food banks need people who are willing to pick up and drop off food, package food into boxes, and distribute food to patrons. They also need folks to help keep their facility clean and organized, help with administrative and accounting duties, and coordinate other volunteers. No matter what your personal skills are, there is likely a way you can apply those skills to benefit the operation of food banks in your area.
Help Spread the Word
If you want to help out your local food bank, one of the best things you can do is to help them spread the word. If you know families in your area who are having difficulty making ends meet, make sure they’re aware of the nearest food bank and its hours of operation. Many people who are struggling financially don’t know where to turn for help. By spreading the word, you’ll not only be doing your local food bank a favor, but you’ll be helping fellow community members as well.
Donate Bulk Nonperishable Food Items
Donating bulk food is an ideal way to help your local food bank. With so many hungry mouths to feed, they rely on the kindness of community members to ensure their shelves remain stocked. When considering what to donate, strive for nonperishable food items, cans with pop tops, things that don’t require cooking, and other food items that will be accessible to those without houses or access to stove tops.
Start a Community Food Drive
While spending your own money to donate bulk food is an ambitious and thoughtful gesture, you won’t be able to feed all of the hungry mouths on your own. By starting a community food drive in your region, you’ll be able to collaborate with hundreds of other compassionate people in your community to raise even more food for your local food bank. When operating a food drive, it’s important to only collect nonperishable food items.
Oftentimes, food banks will receive donations more quickly than they’re able to distribute them. While this doesn’t seem like such a bad problem to have, if they’re dealing with perishable food items, a lot could end up going to waste. Connect with local organizations in your area, such as nearby churches that are centrally located, and ask them whether they’d be willing to serve as a drop-off location for food donations. You can spread the word about your food drive by telling family and friends, collaborating with local homeless shelters, distributing flyers, and creating an event on social media sites like Facebook to raise more awareness.
Buy Food in Bulk to Make Your Money Go Further
If you’re considering donating bulk nonperishable food items to your local food bank, you’ll want to find the most nutritional food items at the lowest prices, so you can make your money go further. At DollarDays, we sell a vast array of food that’s perfect for foodbanks. At our bulk, wholesale rates, you’ll be able to donate more food at a fraction of the cost of your local grocery store. Browse our food pantry today, so you can support the most vulnerable members of your community.