Here's A Little Food (Pantry) Etiquette
*Photo provided by Loaves & Fishes
“I don’t know if you have ever experienced this, but no food, especially for your kids, that is the scariest. I can’t describe the insecurity of it. No lights? Use candles. No heat? Put on extra socks and a sweater. No food? That’s another story.” - Leonisa Adams, Loaves & Fishes pantry volunteer and former client
Feeding families can be expensive and the thought of children being hungry is truly terrifying.
Our Nonprofit of the Week, Loaves & Fishes, provides groceries for neighbors in need based on referrals. Last year, Loaves & Fishes provided over 71,000 people in Mecklenburg County with groceries to prepare meals in their own homes.
Neighbors in need who are referred to one of Loaves & Fishes 16 local food pantries are provided with a friendly shopping experience. They are given a list and provided the opportunity to “shop” the pantry for items they need, including meats, dairy products, produce, grains and condiments! Everything needed to make a meal.
Loaves & Fishes operates a large distribution center in Charlotte to stock the 16 pantries. The volume (1.5 million pounds of groceries distributed in 2015) they work with is even more amazing considering they only have nine full-time and two part-time employees. Loaves & Fishes is run on the kindness of over 4,000 volunteers who do everything from manning phones at the call center, to sorting items at the distribution center and working at the pantries helping clients shop.
But we can do our part too! Loaves & Fishes is looking for volunteers!
Also, Saturday, May 14 is the 24th annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Plastic shopping bags were distributed to mailboxes around Charlotte last week. I got mine! Fill the bag and place it at your mailbox so your local letter carrier can collect it. All donated items will be divided between Loaves & Fishes and Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina.
Dos and Don’ts of Food Pantries
DON’T
Assume you know who they are helping. It could be your family member, friend or neighbor. Loaves and Fishes helps feed over 70,000 people annually and they very well may have helped someone you know!
Donate expired or “yucky” food! If you or your family would not eat what you are donating, choose something else.
Make donating to food pantries a once-a-year event.
DO
Donate healthy, yummy foods you would eat yourself. Loaves & Fishes priority needs are: canned meats, canned pastas, canned fruits, dry cereal, 100% fruit juices and powdered milk.
Consider donating other items like diapers and feminine products
Get your children involved and let them pick out items to donate. Make it a family activity!
Donate often!