Tips for donors: Money or food?

I am often asked whether we prefer donations of money or food.  My answer is both.

Each pantry and foodbank will be different.  In some cases, I suspect that very large pantries and foodbanks could do more with money.  On the flip side, smaller pantries with less man power may really need you to bring food directly to them.  Before you donate, contact the agency you are interested in helping to find their preference.

We are a suburban pantry that serves 20-30 families per week on average.  We are a member of  Feedmore (Central Virginia Foodbank) and therefore Feeding America.

Here's why I like donations of BOTH money and food:

Money

* Most of the year, we do not receive enough donations of food to serve all of our guests.  (November and December during prime food drive season is a little different.)  Money in reserve allows us to shop to fill in the gaps.

* We can sometimes do more with your money than you can.  If we are able to find what we need at Feedmore, we pay only a low shared maintenance cost to withdraw food (usually 19cents per pound).

* Sometimes we have nutritional gaps that need to be filled quickly.   If, for example, we are all out of protein and have some money on hand, we can go to the grocery store to fill in the gaps by shopping sales.  We generally can plan ahead to keep such emergencies from happening, but available funds help in a pinch.

* For some people, being able to give money is just easier.  Some people who really want to support us never would if they had to go shopping.  Making a donation in the offering plate or our church e-giving system is quick and easy, and allows those interested to support us and be involved in a way that fits their lifestyle.

* Sometimes we don't need food.  Sometimes we need supplies to help us acquire and distribute the food.  Since our ministry is more than just a pantry, sometimes we may need funds to support a ministry guest through other means than food.  Having funds allows us flexibility to do these things.


Food

* Direct donations of food save us as volunteers a lot of time and effort.  If you bring the food to us, all we have to do is put it away.  Going to Feedmore requires an appointment and a number of hours for shopping, hauling, unloading, sorting, and stocking.  Going to the grocery store still requires a volunteer to put in extra time to acquire food.  When you give us food, you allow us to use our time in other ways.

* Direct donations of food means we have more variety to share.  We are a client choice pantry, which means guest select their own food within certain parameters.  In our case, it is one item per shelf, and we try to arrange it logically.  Therefore, your can of beets might go on the vegetable shelf with cans of spinach, carrots, and asparagus.  Some of these might be organic, no sodium, vegan, etc..  Our guest can pick the item off that shelf that their family will be most likely to eat that best suits their nutritional needs.  If we shop, we might end up with case after case of green beans, which works fine, but doesn't allow the same nutritional variety.

* Direct donation of food helps prevent food waste.  If you buy a box of oatmeal, eat one pouch and hate it, you can give us the rest (as long as the individual pouches are sealed).  Someone else might like it.  You know that odd can of soup you picked up by accident?  We'll share it.  Don't have room to store that entire case of whatever that you bought at Costco?  Give us your extras.  We even take recently expired food, because most canned items are good for at least a year past date.  (You could eat it yourself, but if you really want to get rid of it, don't throw it out.  Let us check it first.)

* Donating food helps donors feel more connected to the process.  Writing a check can be too easy sometimes.  Our hearts are more engaged if we select the items and think about those who might receive them in the process.  Think about your kid's favorite fruit, or the new healthy item that you love serving your family, and then know another family might appreciate it the same way you do.  If you live alone, you are well suited to shop for items that may eventually go to someone else in a one person household.


Ask before you donate.
Anything you give will be appreciated, but if you want to have the greatest impact, contact the agency you wish to donate to and ask their preference.

If you are in western Henrico and would like to support our pantry with food OR funds, email me at care@gaytonchurch.org.