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Give without remembering
I’ve got an idea. Let’s start with this, “Stop blaming poor, underemployed, under-housed people for just about everything.” Do you need an example? Sure you do. Recently a Food Pantry was opened at the Picton Library. It’s not meant to be a food bank. It’s not meant to be anything except a place where a person, who feels they’re in need, can pick up a little something to help them make it through the day. Maybe it’s a jar of peanut butter. Maybe it’s a box of saltine crackers. Maybe it’s a box of quick macaroni and cheese. Perhaps it’s a juice box or a jar of instant coffee. Whatever it is, sometimes a person needs a little something to make a stomach stop rumbling. If you happen to be able to make a donation to the food pantry, wonderful. A “food pantry” isn’t the place to make a lifestyle statement, and as a donor to a “food pantry” you should never assume you are in a position to make lifestyle statements. The End.
So, what would be the best food items to donate to a “food pantry”. As I mentioned peanut butter is a great idea, so are saltine crackers. Those two items can help a hungry person make it through few days, perhaps until they have the resources to grocery shop. Don’t be afraid to donate those little containers of applesauce or pudding cups, maybe you might consider adding a few of those little boxes of raisins or bags of dried fruits or nuts. It’s great to donate a bag of dried beans or other legumes, but if a hungry person doesn’t have the facilities to prepare those items they’ll be sitting on the shelf for a long time. Think about it, a bag of dried beans or legumes without a recipe or an onion and spices is just a bag of dried beans. It’s just inedible stuff. Instead of donating a great big bag of uncooked oats, consider donating packets of instant oatmeal or those little boxes of cereals (they can be used as a breakfast item or a crunchy treat). Don’t be afraid to donate ramen noodle packages. Ramen noodle packets have saved a lot of people the pain of going to bed hungry. How about a few cans of tuna, salmon or chicken for the pantry? Hungry people have infants, so infant formula, cereal, pureed veggies, pureed fruits, teething-type biscuits are a great kindness. As I mentioned, people who need to use a food pantry are in instant need of food. They aren’t going back to the log cabin to whomp up a batch of slow-cooked vittles. Maybe you might consider a can of soup or beans or fruit or vegetables. Those items don’t require a fully equipped kitchen to prepare. Don’t worry about the sodium levels or the preservatives. When you’re hungry you aren’t too concerned about those things and most processors are very aware of the move away from high sodium, etc., products. Did I mention cookies? I didn’t. Even people who use food pantries are real, live people. People like cookies. I like cookies. I bet most of you like cookies. Consider putting some cookies, or granola bars, on the shelf.
Additionally, consider condiments as a donation— ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, chilli sauce along with salt and pepper. A few spices couldn’t hurt but I suggest you try to keep it simple. Also, remember that real people will be using the food pantry. There’s a good chance you, personally, wouldn’t eat food past its “best before” or “use-by” date so don’t donate anything past those dates. Also, it’s great you cleaned out “your pantry” and thought you’d donate all of those “extra” cans of things but if you bought some exotic canned something-oranother and don’t have the intestinal fortitude to eat it chances are food pantry users won’t want to eat that jellied eel, candied okra or pickled dates. Let’s be kind enough to avoid the thinking “beggars can’t be choosers”. That phrase needs to be kicked to the kerb. It’s offensive. The End. Oh, and then?
And then, the Food Pantry is a safe place for people to get the things they need. The Food Pantry does not need to be policed by any one of us. The users do not need our judgement or our permission to access the Food Pantry. If you aren’t a Food Pantry user or not making a donation, don’t be a busy-body.
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