Americans who once might have donated food or money now find themselves in need and many of those who used to volunteer at a foodbanks are now standing in line for food at local pantries...hunger and food insecurity is on the rise for middle Americia...
quite a haul for someone who is hungry
The message is simple. Ever more Americans need food they can't afford. As tough economic times take their toll, increasing numbers of Americans are on tight budgets and, in some cases, facing outright hunger. As a result, they may be learning a lot more about food banks and soup kitchens than most of them ever wanted to know. -Nick Turse
is someone in your neighborhood hungry? i would venture if there is a for sale sign in the yard, especially if it has been there for some months...the people inside may be hungry, very hungry...and they may not have any idea where to go for help...
when formerly-employed people need to stretch beyond the bounds of pride and normalcy and ask for help...it can be humiliating, humbling, and painful...when you are hungry it hurts...when your children are hungry all pride quickly disappears...
your local food bank probably needs emergency food...
the foodstuffs needed are:
Soups and stews. They are filling, particularly the "chunky" soups, and contain liquid for hydration. In addition, soups can be filled with protein and vegetables.
Rice and pasta. "They're really staples," Nowak says. In addition, grain-based foods, such as pasta, are a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates.
Cereal, including oatmeal. Breakfast cereals can be an additional source of protein, and most cereals today include a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Canned vegetables, including tomatoes and tomato sauce. Studies indicate that canned vegetables have about the same nutritional value as fresh vegetables.
Canned or dried beans and peas. A staple of diets as early as 6700 B.C., beans are a low-fat source of protein and fiber.
Canned fruits. Only a small amount of vitamin C is lost in the canning process, making these a healthy choice.
Fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed). Make sure it's 100% juice.
Prepared box mixes such as macaroni and cheese or Hamburger Helper.
Shelf-stable milk. This includes dehydrated milk, canned evaporated milk and instant breakfasts.
people without funds need:
- food
- deodorant...
- toilet paper...
- toothpaste
- otc medicine (aspirin, tums, etc,)
- soap and shampoo
from msn article 10 donations food banks need most
"Consider this," Ross Fraser of Feeding America wrote in an e-mail. "If you buy a can of tuna fish and donate it to a food bank, it will cost you a dollar and some change." However, a $1 donation to Feeding America provides "about 20 pounds of food and grocery products to someone at risk of hunger."
Other food banks rate their return on your dollar at anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds of food. They do it by buying in bulk, using volunteer labor and working with food brokers who notify them of deep discounts.
the foodstuffs needed are:
Proteins. Canned meats such as tuna, chicken or fish are high in protein and low in saturated fat. Peanut butter is rich in protein and high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils, the "good fats." These are among the most expensive foods -- too expensive for food banks to buy large quantities.
Soups and stews. They are filling, particularly the "chunky" soups, and contain liquid for hydration. In addition, soups can be filled with protein and vegetables.
Rice and pasta. "They're really staples," Nowak says. In addition, grain-based foods, such as pasta, are a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates.
Cereal, including oatmeal. Breakfast cereals can be an additional source of protein, and most cereals today include a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Canned vegetables, including tomatoes and tomato sauce. Studies indicate that canned vegetables have about the same nutritional value as fresh vegetables.
Canned or dried beans and peas. A staple of diets as early as 6700 B.C., beans are a low-fat source of protein and fiber.
Canned fruits. Only a small amount of vitamin C is lost in the canning process, making these a healthy choice.
Fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed). Make sure it's 100% juice.
Prepared box mixes such as macaroni and cheese or Hamburger Helper.
Shelf-stable milk. This includes dehydrated milk, canned evaporated milk and instant breakfasts.
*Article by Nick Turse
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1 comment:
Our local newspaper has been including a list of food items and such needed by the local food bank on a regular basis the last few mionths. It used to be we'[d see these articles once or twice a year ususally near a holiday. It is definitely a dign that more and more people are having to depend on the food banks to feed their families. A good way to help is for an employer to take up a collection of food or money right after a payday. Leave a box or envelope in an employee breakroom so the donations will be annonymous and others will not know if someone does not donate.
This is a hard subject but I thank you for posting it.
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