Food banks give out what people bring in, so the most useful donations are foods that keep for months and can be made into a meal with little equipment. Many people who use a food bank have only a kettle or a microwave, or cannot afford to run an oven for long.
A good shopping list
- Tins: soup, beans, tomatoes, vegetables, fish, meat and fruit. Ring-pull tins help people without a tin opener.
- Dry food: pasta, rice, noodles, oats, cereal and lentils.
- Jars and sauces: pasta sauce, peanut butter, jam and honey.
- Long-life drinks: UHT milk, fruit juice, tea and instant coffee.
- Not food, but often needed: toothpaste, soap, shampoo, sanitary products, nappies and baby wipes.
What most food banks cannot take
For food safety, food banks generally cannot accept home-cooked food, opened packets, anything past its use-by date or food that needs a fridge. Rules differ from place to place, so check with your local food bank before a large collection.
Ask what is running low
Stock goes up and down. Many food banks publish a short list of what they need this week; giving from that list helps more than buying the same items as everyone else.