# Individuals donating \*food\* to food banks, not money -- is this effective? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 17, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929 "2025-11-17T19:12:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/81 "2025-11-23T17:17:38Z")
Yep, there’s a huge (for a small town) food bank near me. I’ve taken my friend there when her back is acting up and she needs help carrying things. A lot of their canned goods are off brands or Mexican brands in very large quantities. I’m sure they’d be gracious if I brought in a couple of sacks of groceries but they don’t operate that way. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/82 "2025-11-23T17:22:45Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Again for at least the third time, different food banks have different needs. I think that part of it is also terminology.I typically see “food bank” used for large warehouse style operations that don’t serve individual clients - like [this](https://www.cityharvest.org/food-distribution/) one, or [this](https://www.foodbanknyc.org/what-we-do/food-distribution/) one. They don’t serve individual people - they provide the food to soup kitchens and food pantries which _do_ serve individual people. And those smaller operations often do prefer food donations, while the larger ones will accept donations from food drives, but the actual food donations they want are from supermarkets , farmers or restaurants that donate hundreds of punds of food regularly. From individual people, they prefer cash. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/83 "2025-11-23T17:23:37Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > The recipe is IIRC 1 can of evaporated milk and 1 can of water, and add 2 teaspoonfuls of sugar. My mother used dark Karo syrup but any sugar other than honey is fine. Damn. I think that’s the exact recipe my mom was given over 70 years ago when she couldn’t breastfeed. I distinctly remember the Karo syrup because she said my older sister like the recipe the way the doctor gave it to her. My younger sister preferred less syrup. I liked _more_ syrup…and she _gave_ it to me. Building all those fat cells when I was a helpless infant. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > Well, it’s disadvantageous to embezzle cans of Cream Corn. LOL. I was the only kid in my family who actually liked creamed corn. If my mom bought any my sibliings would snatch it up for the first food drive that came around. And I didn’t get my creamed corn. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/84 "2025-11-23T19:51:27Z")
Some of the large food banks must be glad to have food donations since they organize their own food drives, such as this one: > **[7 Tips for a Successful Holiday Food and Fund Drive - Food Bank of Contra...](https://www.foodbankccs.org/2017/10/7-tips-successful-holiday-food-fund-drive/)** > > Hosting a food or fund drive is easier than you think! With these tips you will be on your way to helping provide food to your neighbors in need all year long. Set a goal– Decide how many pounds of food or dollars you will raise by a specific date.... If there was no benefit to food donations, they wouldn’t be taking the time, effort and money to put out donation barrels like these. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2025, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/85 "2025-11-23T21:10:25Z")
Me, too. It’s not at all uncommon to have past the best by date. That’s where they get most of their donations, from places that had food that they didn’t sell before that date. The food is still good, so it would be incredibly wasteful not to give it to someone rather than throw it away. If there are these policies at these places, they are not because they don’t give out outdated food. And frankly, no, people giving out only food they don’t want does not insult me. Why would I even care about the people who gave it? It’s the same logic behind why giving food instead of money is okay. I’d rather get something than nothing. And, FYI, I don’t know anyone who has been upset at me giving them the food i have, sometimes some of it is outdates, some because it was when I got it. All of us, including those of us who are poor, are capable of deciding if we want to eat it. I don’t really need my “dignity” defended. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/86 "2025-11-24T00:20:06Z")
Well, anyway, my time as “co-coordinator” for my company organizing the food and donation drive to the Second harvest Food bank was worthwhile, not to mention the money I donated. My company even got some sort of award. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > And that gives the answer to the OP’s question. If people give food and not money, then yes giving food is more effective than nothing. Right. > [@hajario](#): > > Again for at least the third time, different food banks have different needs. I’m not sure how that’s not obvious. Really? > [@BigT](#): > > It’s the same logic behind why giving food instead of money is okay. I’d rather get something than nothing. > > And, FYI, I don’t know anyone who has been upset at me giving them the food i have, sometimes some of it is outdates, some because it was when I got it. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/87 "2025-11-24T02:41:18Z")
I have several cans of creamed corn in my pantry. I also have Veg-All and peas ‘n carrots. I don’t eat them straight, but do use them in recipes. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/88 "2025-11-26T21:18:34Z")
Our latest (and largest) food drive just ended. It pits Bozeman against Missoula to see who can donate the most and culminates in the big college football game. Both communities are about 100,000 folks. Bozeman donated 335,189 pounds of food and $683,400. Missoula was just very slightly less in both categories. Makes me kind of proud. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/89 "2025-11-26T21:41:19Z")
I wanted to make sure to donate something before Thanksgiving, so called up my local food bank and asked what they needed – as many here recommended. They said “we have a ton of pasta but no spaghetti sauce - can you get some of that?” So I did. The nice lady also said that WinCo\* gift cards were always welcome and that she saved them up till she had a few, then went shopping with them. This is obviously a very mom-and-pop operation, and I might start volunteering there. If/when I do, I’ll call before a shift and see what they need, then bring some in – or just a gift card if I don’t have time to hit the store. \*local discount grocery ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/90 "2025-11-28T18:51:33Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Canned food most certainly has an expiration date printed on it, so saying “I won’t eat this because it’s past the expiration, but I’m sure the poors won’t be so picky” is a pretty shitty thing to do. I just cleaned out my cupboard which had a bunch of canned soups in it. There were a few that expired several years ago, and those went straight into the garbage, even though they were likely still safe to eat. There were also three cans of fairly expensive premium soups that had expired only about 9 months ago. The easiest thing for me to have done was to just dump them in the garbage with the others. Instead, I packaged them in a transparent plastic bag and took them to the supermarket donation bin. Does this make me evil? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/91 "2025-11-28T19:18:29Z")
I swear I’m not making this up. I got a misdelivered Amazon package this week, and when I contacted Amazon they just told me to keep it. When I opened it, it had 12 cans of Del Monte diced tomatoes. I won’t use them because I think Del Monte tomatoes are crap, but based on the opinions I expressed in this thread, I’m wondering if I should feel bad for donating perfectly edible but not up to my standards canned food. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/92 "2025-11-28T19:20:34Z")
That is perfectly acceptable and they’d appreciate it ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/93 "2025-11-28T19:21:45Z")
Oh yeah I know, I’m just now questioning my “It’s shitty to donate something that I won’t eat” attitude. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/94 "2025-11-28T19:29:04Z")
They’re almost certainly going to be at least as good as whatever tomatoes the food pantry will buy or get from their next level up supplier. And tastes vary; some people like them, even if you don’t. Bring them. I’d bring the less than a year over fancy soups, too. Somebody may love that particular soup, and the pantry’s certainly not going to buy them. But I’d check with the individual pantry first, as apparently some won’t take out of dares though others certainly will. Though to tell the truth, I’d probably put them at the front of the cupboard and eat them myself, unless I’d decided I didn’t like them for other reasons. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/95 "2025-11-28T19:31:13Z")
Totally true but I don’t believe it either followup - the package was addressed to the previous owner of this house.. There was a gift receipt inside, which seemed strange since it was a case of canned tomatoes. I looked up the address of the local food pantry, and one of the people who runs it is the previous owner who the package was addressed to. So I assume that the “gift” was in fact a donation, though I don’t know why the buyer sent it to their home address instead of the food pantry. So it’s going to the intended destination anyway. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/96 "2025-11-28T19:35:41Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Oh yeah I know, I’m just now questioning my “It’s shitty to donate something that I won’t eat” attitude That’s not a prevailing attitude. I’ve donated cans left by exes or houseguests or I bought more than one and didn’t like it. That attitude might be along the lines of it’s something objectively shitty like years out of date or a weird can of yak guts. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/97 "2025-11-28T19:43:58Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Oh yeah I know, I’m just now questioning my “It’s shitty to donate something that I won’t eat” attitude. The food pantry I volunteer at has a hard time moving Amy’s organic soups, but no trouble moving Campbell’s. Same with cereals. Kellogg’s and General Mills cereals fly off the shelves. Cascadian Farms sits on the shelf. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/98 "2025-11-28T20:38:54Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Oh yeah I know, I’m just now questioning my “It’s shitty to donate something that I won’t eat” attitude. I understand and agree w the underlying sentiment, but I think we’ve all seen that in this particular situation, the sentiment is easy to overapply. We’ve also seen that “best by” dates are a slippery concept with lots of subjectivity attached. I have donated running cars that I no longer wanted. Me? I was done with it and could be said to have turned my nose up at it. Some “poor” \* got it somehow and was darn happy for it. * * * \* I am _not_ happy about nouning that particular adjective. I’m just using it for parallelism because you did. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/99 "2025-11-28T20:48:27Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Oh yeah I know, I’m just now questioning my “It’s shitty to donate something that I won’t eat” attitude. I’m a picky eater. There are lots of food items that are objectively fine that i won’t eat. There are also food items that objectively have issues that i will eat, like the soup that i accidentally left out overnight that still smells fine. I’ll boil it first, and take a small taste, and if it tastes okay to me, I’ll eat it. Anyway, I’d donate the first and not the second. It doesn’t really matter if _you_ will eat it, what matters is if it’s objectively a safe and palatable food. Fwiw, i don’t buy del Monte whole tomatoes or tomato sauce, but they are my favorite brand for diced tomatoes. I think they add calcium salts to help the pieces hold their shape. Anyway, i think they taste fine and hold up nicely in soup. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929/100 "2025-11-28T21:38:45Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Oh yeah I know, I’m just now questioning my “It’s shitty to donate something that I won’t eat” attitude I don’t eat Twinkies, but I wouldn’t hesitate to give them to someone who would enjoy them. Same goes for Ragu spaghetti sauce, Rice-a-Roni, Mac & Cheese, Wonder Bread, and much much more. And I’d be delighted to be re-gifted some off-the-wall canned good that I like that someone else doesn’t. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/individuals-donating-food-to-food-banks-not-money-is-this-effective/1024929.md?page=6)