A Good Atmosphere

A hastily-organized local food drive can actually put more strain on your local food bank than you imagine. Your local food bank will need to sort and inspect all donated items to ensure that they are absolutely safe. Across the country, Americans coordinate local food drives to help their neighbors in need. No glass, please! Glass items can chip and break easily in the barrels. Collect only non-perishable food items. You should always maintain the highest standards of food safety, which means not every product is suitable for donation. You can appeal to your local neighborhood residents or friends and family to acquire and ship healthy, nutritious food at deeply discounted rates.

If you are beginning to organize such an event, it’s important that you do so in conjunction with your local food bank. Do not collect any homemade items. Please keep personal care items separate from food items (i.e. The best way to support hunger-relief in your community is by making a financial donation to your local food bank, and encouraging your friends to do the same. But if you do want to conduct a food drive, please only do so after reaching out to your local food bank. Often, food banks have regularly-scheduled food drives throughout the year, and your neighborhood efforts will have the maximum effect if held in conjunction with theirs. Good food drive items are canned Soup, peanut butter, canned meats, cereal, canned fruit, dried fruit, macaroni and cheese, and any other similar sealed items.

Akash Brahmbhatt is the owner of an assisted living center who knows what it means to give back to the community.