Support your local food pantry

Today I shopped at Marc’s especially for groceries to take to church for the Thanksgiving service.  I’ve volunteered there so I know what is useful (at our pantry the clients get to choose from a variety of foods, and most know what they can and should eat, like low sugar, low salt, etc.)  I didn’t buy Thanksgiving type food because the holiday will be over by the time these items get to the shelves, also many of the clients are different nationalities, and what we like might not be enjoyed by them.  Also, I avoided glass jars, because bags break and sometimes the clients are on foot or using the bus. Here’s what I selected.  I bought about 20 items and spent about $30.00.

Pasta

Spaghetti sauce, traditional

Canned fruit

Canned vegetables

Large container of applesauce

Single serving meals which include meat and vegetables  (not everyone has a family)

High quality soup, low sodium (if you don’t like watery tasteless soup, they won’t either)

3 different types of cold cereal, unsweetened (we don’t eat this, but many families with children do)

Boxed mashed potato mix (a bag of potatoes is much more economical, but you don’t know the cooking situation)

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/11/20/Food-Pantries-Overwhelmed-As-Obama-Economy

For the life of me, I don’t understand the “pantries overwhelmed” message, since record numbers are signed up for food stamps, the unemployment rate supposedly is under 8%.  Food pantries are run by volunteers—mostly by churches--with some paid staff, and most of the food IS NOT DONATED, it is purchased, and farmers and producers and food processors are paid by the government—it is a huge business.  Our local food bank gets a lot of support from foundations and non-profits.

http://www.midohiofoodbank.org/img/PDFs/Know-Get-The-Facts/MOF-History-timeline.pdf