Twenty Side Steps

 

I noticed on the calendar our neighborhood’s doing a food drive in a few weeks. I’m ashamed to admit most of the time, these events take me by surprise. I dash to my pantry and grab a few things I’m unlikely to need in the immediate future. But it occurs to me the foods I have little use for are probably not in higher demand at a food bank. Since I have some time to plan, I can stock up on things that will really do some good:

Peanut butter and other nut spreads

Canned tuna, chicken or salmon

Canned beans like garbanzos, black-eyed peas, and pintos

Dried pasta and canned pasta sauce

Canned soup, vegetables or fruit

Pantry staples like oil, salt, flour or sugar

While I’m on the subject, there are some things you should NEVER donate to a food bank:

Food in glass containers, as they’re easily broken

Food that’s been opened

Food that has expired