Many Americans face challenges in accessing affordable and healthy food, despite the country’s abundant supply. Food pantries play a key role in providing food to individuals and families who need assistance.
Donations from local farms, retailers, and consumers are important for keeping food pantries stocked throughout the year. While demand remains steady, donations often increase during the fall as people participate in food drives ahead of the holiday season.
Guidelines for donating to food pantries include checking with your local pantry about their specific needs, as some may only accept cash or certain items. Donating money is often helpful because it allows pantries to purchase needed foods at lower costs and select items most useful for their patrons.
Nutritious non-perishable foods such as peanut butter, jelly, canned proteins, and healthy snacks for children are encouraged. When purchasing items for donation, consider what families of all ages might need and prefer. Retail-sized containers are preferred over bulk sizes since pantries cannot repackage large quantities into smaller portions.
It is important to donate only undamaged food in original packaging with intact labels. Canned goods should be free from deep dents, rust pits, bulging ends, or leaks; damaged cans should be discarded rather than donated. Only donate foods that have not passed their expiration or “best by” dates—this is especially critical for baby formula and infant foods.
Food pantries do not accept home-canned or homemade goods such as jams or baked items. Personal hygiene products are also welcome donations since these are not typically covered by other assistance programs.
As stated in the release: “Whatever you choose to donate, do it with compassion for your neighbors. Remember, you can make a difference in someone’s life by donating money, food, or personal hygiene items to a local food pantry.”
Those interested can search the New Hampshire Food Bank website for nearby locations or donate directly to the organization. The New Hampshire Food Bank distributes millions of pounds of food each year through more than 420 partner agencies across New Hampshire—including shelters and senior centers—which provide hunger relief statewide.
The article also acknowledges contributions from participants in UNH Extension’s November 19th SAFE for Food Pantries class.
