Feeding the Hungry

 

This graphic shows up on Facebook and, I imagine, other places each year, although it doesn't usually appear until sometime in November. I volunteer at our local food pantry and have some thoughts to share about the Reverse Advent Calendar.

I have no argument with the basic premise. Advent is an excellent time to think about families who are food insecure and to try to do something to help. My quibble is -- well, where do I begin?

--Most likely, your local food bank won't be open on Christmas Eve.

--Even if it is, all of those twenty-four items must be checked for dates individually and then put on the right shelf. And we're talking twenty-four different shelf locations here. One of this and one of that, oh my, the processing is so time consuming!

--Oh, and wouldn't it be nice to have the food available for the families a week or so before Christmas rather than a week or so after?

--Everything on the Reverse Advent Calendar list can be bought with SNAP benefits (what some of us know as Food Stamps). People also need laundry detergent, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste (and a new toothbrush would be awfully nice), dish soap, and sanitary napkins. And at the grocery store, all of those things must be paid for with cash, not food stamps.

--The list is weak on protein. Sure, there's peanut butter. And there's tuna fish. But how far does one little can of tuna go to feed a family of four or more? We kid about Spam, but it's a source of protein. So is canned chicken. So is canned salmon. 

So, help feed the hungry -- not just during Advent, but anytime! And here are some ideas to consider:

--Instead of a lot of different things, just buy a case of something. Something you like that has some decent nutritional value.

--Consider purchasing non-food, personal care items.

--Ask your food bank if they have space to store things like milk, bacon, eggs, fruits and vegetables.

--Revisit shelf-stable protein and perhaps purchase a canned ham or two (or more), canned chicken, large size cans of tuna.

--Expiration dates matter!

--Think about your own pantry basics like flour and sugar in five-pound bags, cooking oil, and fun items like chocolate bits.

--Make your goal to deliver to the food bank the first day of Hanukkah, which this year is December 8.

Thank you for thinking about all of this.

PS: Canned mixed vegetables are gross and, frankly, IMNSHO, canned carrots should not even exist.