10 Things Food Banks Need, But Won't Ask For

Some items are in high demand at the food bank and you may not realize it. Because they aren’t essentials, the staff doesn’t publicly ask for them. A survey on Reddit.com asked volunteers what items people would be most appreciative of and the top 10 items are listed below. If you’re looking for an easy way to help out, pick some of these up while shopping and drop them off at one of our area food banks, such as the Kennett Food Cupboard in Kennett Square, PA, and the Sunday Breakfast Mission in Wilmington, Delaware.

10 Things Food Banks Need But Won’t Ask For :

Spices

Think about it. People who rely on the food bank eat a lot of canned food, rice, oatmeal, white bread, etc. They won’t ask for it but they Need / Love spices! There is no need to ask, get: Seasoned Salt, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, Cumin, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Allspice, Oregano, Basil and so on.
Feminine Products

Can you imagine being worried about affording these? Pads, tampons, panty liners, etc. Remember: Buy in bulk when donating! It’s all about the numbers; getting needed resources to those in need, at only a cents per person, your donation can make a big difference!
Chocolate

People don’t feel they ‘need’ it, and there for won’t ask for it, but think about being in their shoes. If a little spice makes a big difference, how nice it would be to be given a chocolate bar or brownie mix along with your essentials.
Toiletries

Grocery stores are great about donating surplus or unsold food, but they have no reason to donate toilet paper, tooth paste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, etc. Food stamps often don’t cover these and they don’t go bad or expire. This makes toiletries more difficult to come by, otherwise.
Canned meats and jerky

This isn’t true of all food banks, but some struggle to give users enough protein.
Crackers and tortillas

They don’t spoil and everybody likes them.
Baby toiletries

Diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, baby shampoo, baby soap, baby food, bottles, etc.
Soup packets

Sometimes you look at rice, beans, instant potatoes, and cans of vegetable and think, “What do I make with this?” Hearty soup is a complete meal.
Socks

From a former homeless person: “Socks mean the world to you. They keep you warm, make you feel like you have something new, and just comfort you.”
Canned fruit, other than pineapple

Food banks get a lot of pineapple donated, a lot. Their clients love it when other kinds of fruit are available.

And remember, food banks also love cash donations because it allows them to buy whatever they need. Please donate to your local food bank during any time of year!