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Entry bubble The Local Food Bank

By: Nancy | August 14, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

The shelves are bare. Everywhere.

That's the word coming in from emergency food pantries around the country. During this challenging economic time, they're feeling the combined effects of fewer donations and as much as a 25 percent increase in the number of people needing assistance. Even some who have been giving faithfully for years to their local food bank are now finding themselves in need.

filling a bag at the food bank Many of us hit a rough spot financially sometime in our lives. For me, that time was many years ago, right out of college. I had no car and little bus money, got my entertainment from watching neighborhood police raids, and knew exactly when they'd stock the "day old" bread and meat bins at my supermarket. Even years later, memories like that can keep a heart tender toward others who are struggling to get by.

Helping the neighbors can be as simple as buying a couple extra packages of beans or pasta or vegetables during those great supermarket 10 for $10 sales to donate to your nearest food bank or food drive. Or it can be a little more of a commitment, if you can set aside time to volunteer, stocking shelves or distributing groceries at your local food bank or at the food pantry of a nearby shelter, community center or place of worship.

If you're a gardener, many area food banks will welcome that extra load of tomatoes or monster zucchini that you've harvested.

What about where you are? What's your community doing to help neighbors in need?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: food   nancy   neighbor  

Comments (5):

blue comment bubble Posted by John on August 14, 2008 at 10:18 PM EDT

I'm eating lots of Pot Noodles

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blue comment bubble Posted by Gruggers on August 19, 2008 at 11:46 AM EDT

Buying an extra item or two at the 10 for $10 display is a great idea! I will do that. Maybe buy 10.

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blue comment bubble Posted by great Idea on August 22, 2008 at 03:32 AM EDT

this idea is applicable even outside of US.

I will do that, everywhere and everytime.

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blue comment bubble Posted by thegivingneedy on September 13, 2008 at 04:35 PM EDT

i would like to see the food banks end the practice of requiring the needy to fill out paperwork. i think a lot more people would turn to them when in need & then return the favor during times of plenty.


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blue comment bubble Posted by Gary on November 06, 2009 at 08:06 AM EST

AmpleHarvest.org is a national campaign to diminish hunger by enabling backyard (patio-rooftop-kitchen too) gardeners to share their bounty with neighborhood food pantries.

The site is free both for the food pantries and the gardeners using it.

More than 1,100 food pantries nationwide are already on it and more are signing up daily.

It has received backing from the USDA, Google, many faith and service organizations, bloggers, writers, etc.

We need your help.

If you are a gardener with extra produce, please use the site to share what you wish with a community pantry.

If you belong to a house of worship that hosts a food pantry/bank/shelf, please let them know about AmpleHarvest.org and encourage them to register on the site (remind them it is free).

Please print the flier at http://www.ampleharvest.org/InformingTheGardener.php and ask your local nursery/gardenshop etc. to post it in a conspicuous location. You can also post it on the bulletin board of your local supermarket and library.

Lastly, please email/call/Tweet your friends around the country and let them know about AmpleHarvest.org.

AmpleHarvest.org enables people to help their community by reaching into their backyard instead of their back pocket.

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