At the Food Bank
September 25, 2009 at 11:44 AM 3 comments
Low on some basic foods like pork and beans today. Bread didn’t come in until mid-morning (it usually arrives on Thursday). Had cooking oil, flour and sugar — big treats — but as usual, no eggs or butter. Lots of fresh onions and carrots and boxes and boxes of melons. Lots of crappy, almost entirely artificial “instant” Mac’n Cheese. And lots of clients. They are always so grateful.
By the way, the staples you’d find if you went “shopping” at my food bank?
- Tuna (2 per family up to 5 people)
- Peanut Butter (1 per family up to 5 people)
- Canned chili and ravioli (2 per family up to 5 people)
- Canned beans, be they refried, pork and beans, Navy beans (2 per family up to 5 people)
- Soup (2 per 5)
- Dried beans (2 per 5)
- Canned veggies, primarily corn, carrots and peas (2 per 5)
- Canned fruit, primarily Mandarin oranges, fruit cocktail and pumpkin (2 per 5)
- Bread (2 per 5)
- Frozen meat — (1 per family; 2 per family of 6 or more)
- Spaghetti noodles (2 per 5)
- Ramen soup (we buy it at 17c ea. so we’re pretty liberal with this)
- Fake mac’n cheese (2 per family of up to 5 individuals)
- Milk – one per
- Yogurt (2, 3, 4 depending on size of family and availability)
- Cereal (one box per family unless larger than 5
- Sugar, flour, baking mixes, etc., not always available. We divide bags of these items into sandwich baggies and give out sparingly.
- Fresh veggies (Give out depending on amount available. Always concerned about stuff spoiling so that’s a big factor.)
- Toilet paper (everyone gets two rolls no matter the size of the family)
- Feminine products & baby diapers (when available – 8 per family)
- Vitamins (when available – one bottle per family)
That’s it. Never mind toothpaste, paper towel — I mean, you name it. This is it. Period. The only time this varies is when a local organization holds a food drive and “unusual” stuff comes in (or a random citizen drops something off).
Entry filed under: At the Food Bank. Tags: .
1.
ChrisH | September 29, 2009 at 11:36 AM
Makes me embarrassed for all the foods I have stored in my cabinets, and I have cut way back on “inventory.”
One thing strikes me, though – canned pumpkin? My understanding is that there is a nationwide shortage, as last year’s crop was small and we’ve run out, and this year’s is late b/c of too much rain. I know this because it was part of Wookiee’s diet at the end (to keep her “going”) and I had to ask friends to check their cabinets – the stores were bare.
2.
Say It Ain't So Already | September 30, 2009 at 6:00 AM
ChrisH -
Interesting.
Yes, we have lots of pumpkin. I’ve worked there since January and we’ve never had a shortage.
3.
Jack | October 3, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Best of luck. Wish I could help, but here’s a little video that might at least provide a little inspiration — http://www.ahamoment.com/vote/vivienne — about the “aha moment” of one food bank volunteer. If you like it, click to vote for it and she might be one of next year’s aha moment tv commercials.
Thx,
jack@ahamoment.com