how to donate to food banks

Ways to donate food

1. Directly to your local food bank – find your nearest one here.
2. At collection points in supermarkets across the country.
3. By hosting a collection at your school, church or business for your local food bank.

Full Answer

Where can I donate to a local food bank?

Donating wholesome food for human consumption diverts food waste from landfills and puts food on the table for families in need. Donations of nonperishable and unspoiled perishable food from homes and businesses help stock the shelves at food banks, soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters. Donations of perishable prepared foods -- typically collected from restaurants, …

What should you donate to a food bank?

Nov 25, 2020 · At this point in the pandemic, most food banks are accepting food donations, so donating certain food items (more on that later) is great. …

What items make the best food bank donations?

Members of Food Bank’s Five Boroughs Society, an exclusive group of our most dedicated supporters, sustain our mission with cumulative annual gifts of $1,000 or more. Prefer to give offline? Simply print and complete our donation form and return it to the address on the form. Questions about giving? Please email our Donor Services team.

How do I volunteer at a food bank?

Donate. By Mail. Click the Donate button below to make a donation through PayPal. Stop by the Lawton Food Bank at 1819 SW Sheridan Road, during our normal business hours. *During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are asking for donations on Fridays only from 8am-2pm at …

Can you donate money to your local food bank?

If you want to give food, you can drop it off at your local food bank or at a donation point in supermarkets across the country. The Trussel Trust advises checking with your local food bank before donating to see what supplies they currently need.Dec 17, 2021

What do food banks need most?

Specifically, food banks often need items like:Canned soup.Canned fruit.Canned vegetables.Canned stew.Canned fish.Canned beans.Pasta (most prefer whole grain)Rice (most prefer brown rice)More items...•Jan 14, 2020

Is Food Bank NYC a good charity?

Good. This charity's score is 87.54, earning it a 3-Star rating. Donors can "Give with Confidence" to this charity.

Where can I donate extra food in NYC?

Where to donate food in NYCCamba's Where You Can Food Drive. Bring canned food donations to any of Camba's five Brooklyn locations to help stock the organization's emergency food pantry, which feeds 4,300 Brooklynites a month. ... Part of the Solution. ... West Side Campaign Against Hunger.Nov 10, 2017

What can you not donate to a food bank?

What can you donate to a food bank? The main thing to bear in mind is that whatever you give may be stored for some time before it goes to those who need it. Avoid things like fresh fruit and veg, fish, meat and dairy products as it might go bad and the food bank is unlikely to accept it.Oct 8, 2020

What do you give to a food bank?

What to donate to a food bankCereal.Soup.Pasta.Rice.Tinned tomatoes/ pasta sauce.Lentils, beans and pulses.Tinned meat.Tinned vegetables.More items...•Jun 22, 2020

How do I donate to food banks in NYC?

For immediate assistance with donating a large amount of food, please call our Food Sourcing Department at 212.566. 7855 ext. 2250.

What is the best charity to donate to for hunger?

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Fight Hunger GloballyHeifer International.Action Against Hunger.The Hunger Project.Rise Against Hunger.World Central Kitchen.Feeding America.Mercy Corps.Bread for the World.More items...

Is Feeding America a good charity?

Charitable Ratings Charity Navigator has awarded Feeding America a four-star rating for ten consecutive evaluations. Only 3% of charities evaluated by Charity Navigator have received ten consecutive four-star evaluations.

Where can I donate my turkey in NYC?

Free Turkey Giveaways in NYC for Thanksgiving 2021The Salvation Army Harlem Temple Corps – Harlem. ... Gardiner Foundation Turkey Giveaway – Fordham, the Bronx. ... Reaching-Out Community Services' Operation Gobbler Give – Brooklyn. ... West Side Campaign Against Hunger – Upper West Side.More items...

Where can I donate food on LI?

Long Island Cares, Inc: The Harry Chapin Food Bank: The Harry Chapin Food Bank delivers food donations to over 540 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, group homes, day treatment facilities, senior nutrition sites, and day care centers throughout Nassau and Suffolk, so you know that your donation will definitely go ...Dec 22, 2010

What is the Federal Food Donation Act?

Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 (PDF, 142 KB) specifies procurement contract language that encourages federal agencies and contractors to donate excess wholesome food to eligible nonprofit organizations to feed food-insecure people in the United States.

What is gleaning in food?

Gleaning is the collection of excess fresh foods from farms, gardens, farmers markets, and other sources to provide it to those in need. Typically, volunteers partner with a farm to glean excess fresh produce and deliver it to a food bank or food pantry.

What does it mean when you donate a dollar?

This means that when you donate a dollar, you’re able to put more meals on the tables of families than if you donated food you'd purchased at the store.

How many people are at risk of hunger in 2019?

August 21, 2019. With 42 million people in the U.S. at risk of facing hunger due to the pandemic, donating your extra or purchased dry and canned goods through a food drive might seem like the best way to help your neighbors need. But, the best way to support your local food bank is actually through donating money.

Can you live on non-perishable items?

Canned goods and dry food items like pasta and rice are a vital part of our food banks and pantries—but no one can live healthy lives on non-perishable items alone. Feeding people isn’t just about providing food, but about providing healthy food to all of our communities.

What can I give to a food bank?

Your local food bank will likely accept almost any non-perishable food item, but here are the items that food banks want the most: 1 Peanut butter 2 Canned soup or stew 3 Canned fruits and vegetables 4 Canned fish 5 Canned or dried beans 6 Pasta (preferably whole grain) 7 Rice (preferably brown rice)

What do food banks need?

But, because fresh food needs to be refrigerated or frozen and food banks have limited space for this , they often get fixed donations from nearby grocery stores instead of taking small donations from individuals . This also makes it easier for them to make sure that fresh food has been safely stored, which helps prevent spoiled or moldy food.

Why is food insecurity a problem?

Food insecurity is a complex issue. It’s rooted in poverty — people can’t access adequate fresh food if they can’t afford to buy it. It’s exacerbated by the fact that low-income neighborhoods typically have fewer grocery stores and less reliable public transportation, so residents also have less physical access.

How many Americans are food insecure in 2019?

In 2019, 10% of Americans didn’t have access to enough nutritious foods to meet their needs, which is another way of saying that they were food insecure. Thanks to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, particularly higher rates of unemployment, that number has risen to 15%.

Why are school lunches so popular?

If you’ve ever wondered why people make such a big deal of healthy school lunches, it’s because one in six children don’t have regular access to healthy food at home — school lunch may be their main source of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods. COVID-19 has really thrown this for a loop, since many students are learning virtually instead of going to school in person.

Does sodium increase heart disease?

Too much sodium increases a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke, and food insecure individuals may already be at higher risk. Also, stick to fruits and vegetables that are canned in water instead of syrup, or that are labeled "no added sugar.".

Does sugar affect diabetes?

As too much sugar increases a person’s risk of type 2 diabetes, and makes it harder for people with type 2 diabetes to manage their blood sugar. And, again, people who are food insecure may already be at a higher risk.

Make a One-Time Donation

You can make a difference with a contribution of any size. Every $1 = 5 meals.

Become a Big Apple Partner

Our Big Apple Partners support the lives of our neediest neighbors by giving to Food Bank on a monthly basis.

Giving Stocks and Mutual Funds

By donating stocks, bonds or mutual funds, you can reap great tax advantages while making an impact on hunger.

Honor Loved Ones with a Tribute Gift

A Tribute Gift means so much, not only for the honoree, but for the millions of our neighbors struggling to put food on the table.

Workplace Giving

Make your donation, and your impact, go further by using or starting a matching gift program at your workplace.

Planned Giving

Remembering Food Bank in a will or trust leaves a powerful legacy of commitment to our mission.

Join Our Five Boroughs Society

Members of Food Bank’s Five Boroughs Society, an exclusive group of our most dedicated supporters, sustain our mission with cumulative annual gifts of $1,000 or more.