i strongly encourage you to donate money over food to food banks (if u have the choice)
-Speaking As a Food Bank Worker-
Almost half of our time is spent sorting food donations. If it comes from a store, about 1/3 of it is open/unusable/trash.
If it comes from community food donations, about half of it is trash. People really will find a bottle of soy sauce from 2010 and go āmeh, the poor will be grateful for this one.ā NO. That is illegal and dangerous for us to serve.
At my food bank, a $1 donation provides us with 9 lbs of food, or the equivalent of 6 meals.
We have so much purchasing power itās amazing. We can get a whole pallet (3,000 lbs) of almost any canned good for less than wholesale prices.
We partner with farmers from everywhere to get fresh produce and fresh meats.
We donāt focus on nonfoods, but we stock paper towels, toilet paper, laundry sauce, dish sauce, deodorant, menstrual products, and bar soap.
My food bank provides water, dry goods, refrigerated goods, meat, and produce to food pantries in 22 different counties.
My food bank has a kitchen program where we provide full meals to pre-K programs and summer camps.
With the coronavirus outbreak, demand has skyrocketed and will only continue to do so until things calm back down. People need food, and at this moment we are the best mediator between hunger and health.
All of us workers are making minimum wage and are overworked. We have slightly more employee retention than the fast food industry. Slightly. And with this crisis hitting, weāre all working harder than ever.
Please understand that even in good times, we are providing help to so many people, and in bad times like these, we need more help than ever. Money goes much farther than cans, but weāll also take the cans.
If you can give, please give. And if youāre in need, you know who to call.
Our demand has already increased by around 30%, with no increase in staff yet. Today, our milk supplier did us dirty by not giving us our full order, since they can get a store to pay a higher price for it; and I expect that to keep happening. The staff is getting burned-out quickly, but we are the nationās last line of defense against capitalism starvation, and weāre going to be here serving you for as long as we can.
If you can donate, I recommend an organization like Feeding America; or if youād like to be specific to your community, look for the food banks and food pantries in your area.
Millions of Americans are facing hunger. We need to do more. Will you join me? Give to Feeding America today!
If you need food, we are here for you and we will do our best to get you what you need. Do not feel guilty that we are overwhelmed: we are here for such a time as this.
And if you live anywhere near a Food Bank and need a job? Weāre hiring.
Now is one of the most important times to donate to food banks. Make sure people have proper, accessible nutrition becomes especially important in time of quarantine. Please donate if you are able.
Also please consider volunteering! Thereās a huge need. Google your local food bank now.
hehehe laundry sauce
Y'all are awesome. Thank you for working so hard for the good of the community.
LAUNDRY SAUCE
