CPM: Food Pantry Donations

Re: CPM: Food Pantry Donations

• [Deleted User] member

  October 2014

  I would buy name brand only because I feel like the people who need the food panty probably don't get to buy name brand foods very often? I know a lot of it is the same but I would buy food that I would normally buy name brand and food I would normally buy off brand. Maybe act like you're shopping for your own home?

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• Kitten80 member

  October 2014 edited October 2014

  Edit: I was trying to type a comment on what we do typically, but was slow.
  
  @Byjove03‌ and @HannahAlex‌ - thanks. There is a generic list that boils down to the usual non-perishables/cans/pastas/etc. Typically what we do is stretch it, but I do 1. Buy name brand if it is an item I really don't like the generic version. This doesn't happen with many things, and I actually prefer generic of many things, but the few that I tell dh to "Get X brand", I try to do for the pantry as well.
  
  2. Last year the kids were each given X dollars from our weekly grocery budget and they could pick anything they wanted that fell in the list requirements. We talked about nutritional value/etc of the foods as they debated which to get. They did a good job picking and were really proud of themselves. They also did the check out and took it in to the donation box.
  
  I just wondered what others did. We will be getting the items this week/end to drop off next week. I think we may also do the "buy a Thanksgiving meal and drop it off" next month if we can budget for it (saving for LO4 has changed the budget since we originally planned the year).

   

   

   

   

   

  

  

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• Kitten80 member

  October 2014

  haddocky said:

  I would buy name brand only because I feel like the people who need the food panty probably don't get to buy name brand foods very often? I know a lot of it is the same but I would buy food that I would normally buy name brand and food I would normally buy off brand. Maybe act like you're shopping for your own home?

  This is exactly what I do. I was hoping it made sense to do it that way. Thanks @haddocky
  
  

   

   

   

   

   

  

  

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• Stina2012 member

  October 2014

  I read some FB article that had 6 things you should get for the food pantry. It listed spices which I thought was pretty smart, but I wasn't sure if a food pantry would want spices.

  
  

  Also, a great article from Scary Mommy:

  https://www.scarymommy.com/those-people/
  

  

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• mrshudson618 member

  October 2014

  I agree with shop as if you were shopping for yourself. Which for me means buy the cheapest unless I know of a good reason not to. For example I love Aldi, and buy their brand of almost everything, but their canned green beans are terrible and are often full of stems, so whatever is on sale at Kroger is better.

  Married 6/18/11

  BFP #1 10/26/12 DS born 6/30/13

  BFP #2 10/30/13 MC 11/25/13

  BFP #3 1/18/14 DS #2 born 10/7/14

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

    
  

  
  
  

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• MRads member

  October 2014

  Honestly, I give money more than food, because I know our food pantry has deals with local food distributors so $1 given to the food bank, they can buy $4 worth of food.
  
  However, if I were going to go shopping specifically for the food pantry, I'd go shopping like I normally do, so I would look for the best deals.

  
  
  Baby boy 7.10.13

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• redhead610 member

  October 2014

  I usually buy what is on sale or cheapest, which can be a combo of store and n.a. brand.
  
  Our food pantry lets our church know what's needed. It is often high-protein non-perishable items like canned tuna or peanut butter that are always needed. They have specifically asked for no canned vegetables because they end up with way too much, and it is not as filling. They ask for things like chef boyardee because it is an easy to heat meal that doesn't require additional ingredients. During the summer, they ask for cereal. Many kids can get free lunch and breakfast at school, but during the school vacations they need those items available.

   

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• mrshudson618 member

  October 2014

  Honestly, I give money more than food, because I know our food pantry has deals with local food distributors so $1 given to the food bank, they can buy $4 worth of food. However, if I were going to go shopping specifically for the food pantry, I'd go shopping like I normally do, so I would look for the best deals.

  I was going to say the same thing about money instead of food, but I love how @kitten80 makes it a learning experience for the kids.

  Married 6/18/11

  BFP #1 10/26/12 DS born 6/30/13

  BFP #2 10/30/13 MC 11/25/13

  BFP #3 1/18/14 DS #2 born 10/7/14

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

    
  

  
  
  

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• opheliainwaders member

  October 2014 edited October 2014

  Byjove03 said:

  I would say stretch the amount you have to buy the most you can. Does the food pantry have a list of preferred items?

  This. I aim to buy off their list of what they actually want/need, and buy the cheapest version of that (which is usually generic) so that I can get more.
  
  ETA: One thing I always try to buy is baby formula and diapers. It's so expensive, so whenever the big cans of it are on sale, I buy/donate those (most of the time we give to a community initiative that does both food and household goods, so they also are always looking for toiletries, pads/tampons, and diapers, diapers, diapers!).
  

  

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• [Deleted User] member

  October 2014

  I usually get the real brands because I feel weird. Last time, I just went into my own pantry & grabbed food. I wound up giving junk cereals that my husband bought because we don't eat them. I should have probably just bought Skittles... Or fruit snacks.. Or some other poison like muffins.

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• martyn17 member

  October 2014 edited October 2014

  I buy the same stuff I would buy for me.  Generic if its stuff I know is good generic and name brand if I know name brand is way better.

  
  

  As someone who has worked for homeless organizations, I also know financial donations are greatly appreciated as mentioned by PPs

  K & M married 10.8.2011 *** BFP 7.17.2012, EDD 3.21.2013, Miscarriage at 6 wks 3 days *** BFP #2 11.7.2012, beautiful Tess born 7.11.2013
  

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• Kitten80 member

  October 2014

  mrshudson618 said:

  MRads said:

  Honestly, I give money more than food, because I know our food pantry has deals with local food distributors so $1 given to the food bank, they can buy $4 worth of food.
  
  However, if I were going to go shopping specifically for the food pantry, I'd go shopping like I normally do, so I would look for the best deals.

  I was going to say the same thing about money instead of food, but I love how @kitten80 makes it a learning experience for the kids.

  Thanks both and thanks, everyone. I read about the donations on their website so we started doing that as well. This is the annual drive for the local food pantry that the preschool students and elementary school youth group put on in November each year. It goes along with their lessons on giving, thinking of others, and community. I love that it is a tangible thing that I can do with the kids as a learning experience. I appreciate the kind comment, @mrshudson618‌.
  
  They sent home the list today which is nice. A fun thing on the list is birthday cake mix and frosting - the kids will love picking those.
  

   

   

   

   

   

  

  

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