Food Bank Friday, July 31, 2009

[ColbertWatcher]

Why is this posted every week?

Many media outlets are http://news.google.com/news?ned=us&hl=en&q=food+banks+demand">reporting that many food banks across the country are running out of food.

Nearly 1 in 6 Americans are receiving food assistance in a given year (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)

Needs your immediate attention ...

The people at the http://friendsofpineridgereservation.org/projects/">Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota are asking for donations. Please check out their link to see how you can help.

The Tundra Drums begins their summer food bank drive. Please click on the link and help out in any way you can. Here is their shopping list for donations.

If you know of any other community that needs help, please post in reply and it will be added to next week's food bank thread.

Food in the news

* Food Banks Helped By Stimulus^{NY Times}

Some donation ideas

* donate money DUer peace13 reminds us that if a food bank accepts money, they can get food in bulk. Also consider donating office supplies to the organization that runs the food bank (old computers, phones, fax machines, paper, etc)

* DUer blaze signed up to have a donation made automatically every month, find out if your local food bank accepts them too

* "adopt" a food bank item and replenish it whenever it runs low (posted by DUer girl gone mad)

* donate birthday or holiday "kits" (DUer Rabrrrrrr)

* support Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) http://www.chiron-communications.com/farms.html

* donate to Second Harvest http://www.feedingamerica.org/?show_nce=1

* Find and donate "free after rebate" items offered by many stores http://www.salescircular.com/

* DUer peacebird found her household with a few extra dollars every month after paying off a car note, so now they donate that amount to food bank every month. (Way to go peacebird!)

* http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6102376&mesg_id=6102376">DUer havocmom says "Look for local produce. It matters"

Support your local cooperative extension service

* From the extension links in this section, donate all the items to complete one of the recipes (print out and donate copies of the recipe, too!)

* Donate recipe books (or other publications on nutrition) from your local cooperative extension service (Most states cooperative extensions services have all kinds of things available)

Also, after a quick google search for "cooperative extension service recipe," here are three of the top links:

* The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Recipe Central http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/recipe.shtml#basic">Basic Foods From Fridge, Freezer and Cupboard, including a single-page http://lancaster.unl.edu/FOOD/BasicFoodsforCupboard.pdf">list of ingredients (pdf) for all the recipes on the UNL site

* Cornell University Cooperative Extension-New York City's complete (http://nyc.cce.cornell.edu/nutrition/recipes/2008/NH%20Recipe%20Collection.pdf">Nutirion and Health Program Recipe Collection) (pdf)

* University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture's Cooperative Extension Service Departments Family and Consumer Sciences Programming
Recipes recipes for people with diabetes

DUer 1776Forever posted a link for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in another thread.

More information about the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (Main website and Food, Nutrition and Health links)

The Cooperative Extension System is a nationwide, non-credit educational network. Each U.S. state and territory has a state office at its land-grant university and a network of local or regional offices. These offices are staffed by one or more experts who provide useful, practical, and research-based information to agricultural producers, small business owners, youth, consumers, and others in rural areas and communities of all sizes.

CSREES is the federal partner in the Cooperative Extension System. It provides federal funding to the system and, through program leadership, helps the system identify and address current issues and problems.

Food bank checklist

* Print out the flier below and make copies for your friends, family or co-workers to take with you when you go grocery shopping.

* surreptitiously leave copies at the grocery store!

(You don't have to pick up everything on the list, just remember to pick up something.)

If you're unable to donate at this time, but may need assistance yourself, please check out these ideas from your fellow DUers ...

* DUer readmoreoften has some great advice for where to find inexpensive food in your area

* DUer ProgrezivIndie compiled several links on one webpage (for help finding a job, medical care, food, etc) and what to do to keep your food edible after a disaster!

* DUer Missy Vixen found a webpage to help people receive free or low-cost medication!

Please support candidates and policies that guarantee livable wages.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. Bless your heart

for putting this all together in one place. Probably the best post I've ever seen on DU. Kudos, CW.

I live in a high-rise building, a massive place with lots of residents, and the people who run the place began this practice just before the election last November:

A big basket sits on a large table that is in the center of the area where all the elevators open into the lobby. Residents are invited to make food bank contributions there - the basket is emptied several times a day, and a volunteer from a local food bank comes by every day or two to pick up the goods.

Periodically, they post notices in the elevators - where everyone will see them - telling them if certain things are needed - diapers, canned fruit, stuff that is running low.

It's been working, and the contributions never slow down. People have just incorporated it as part of their shopping. The concierge told me that a lot of people return from grocery shopping with bags of food specifically for the food bank, and just leave them in or near the big basket before getting on the elevators.

We all have to help. We have to.................................

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Wow! What a great idea!

Good to hear everyone in your building is still doing well enough to contribute!

Maybe you can make copies of the flier and leave them next the basket?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. It's in the hands of management,

and I would not want to mix it up with them. They're doing an absolutely great job.

Plus, people aren't going to pick up fliers. They're coming or going, but they'll read something brief in the quick elevator ride.

It ain't broke - I just want it to keep going..............

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Agreed! n/t

[backtoblue]

2. K&R Great Post!

Thank you for putting all of that information into one post. :hug:

[ColbertWatcher]

5. ...

You're welcome!

:hug:

[grilled onions]

3. I'm Glad It IS Posted Every Week!

This country is having a crisis in many ways and the lack of food for so many is a huge part of it. It goes across the board, no matter who it is, nomatter where they live, no matter what their age is nor the level of education. Hunger plays no favorites and far too many are one pay check away from not having enough to eat.
For those who feel they already have too much can easily make gift giving time a piece of cake just by hinting to their future party guests to bring canned or boxed food rather then another shirt or tie.
And don't forget rover or prissy. Shelters are also feeling a huge pinch as many are forced to give up pets or share what little food they have with their loyal companions.
There are so many places that can be utilized as drop off sites--churches,libraries,community centers,health clubs. Small communities could easily create challenges to see what places can bring in the most poundage. There are always walks for hunger,races where the fee is canned goods. Schools,scouts--everyone can participate in food drives.
If we all pitch in we can make a difference.

[EFerrari]

6. Don't forget to rec, folks!

:hi:

:kick:

[Kurovski]

9. K&R. (nt)

[azmouse]

10. I make my donation on the first of each month so I don't forget.

I can't stand the thought of someone going hungry.

[EFerrari]

11. Kick