Guide to Healthy Food Donations

The winter holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year for food banks, and nonprofits are feeling the pinch of rising food prices even as demand soars. A 2020 survey by consumer reports found that 1 in 5 American shoppers visited a food pantry, food bank, or community distribution center.

If you’d like to help this holiday season, consider donating a non-electric can opener (a practical, often-overlooked item) along with any of the following nutritious, nonperishable food items.

Healthy Foods to Donate:

• Spices (black pepper, cayenne pepper, etc.) and dried herbs (rosemary, basil, oregano, etc.)
• Low-sodium canned beans (such as black, kidney, cannellini), black-eyed or chickpeas
• Oatmeal (old-fashioned rolled oats), brown rice, & quinoa
• Pasta: whole grain, lentil, chickpea
• Low-sodium spaghetti sauce, canned tomatoes, and low-sodium soups/stews.
• Peanut or almond butter
• Whole wheat crackers and tortillas
• Granola bars (low-sugar KIND, nature valley simple nut, & and nature valley protein bars)
• Unsweetened applesauce cups and canned fruit in 100% juice or water
• Canned meat (tuna, salmon, & chicken)
• Low-sodium chicken and vegetable broth
• Low-fat powdered milk and shelf-stable unsweetened almond milk
• Olive oil, canola oil, & cooking spray

Tips for Donating:

• No glass
• Avoid jumbo-sized products
• Check the expiration date and do not donate expired items
• If possible, call your local food bank and ask if there are any specific items they need

In 2021, 53 million people turned to food banks and community programs for help putting food on the table. To learn more about the impact of hunger in your community and find resources to help, visit feedingamerica.org.

If you’d like to donate to the YMCA’s annual Thanksgiving food drive, you can bring items Nov 1-15^th to the Pabst Farms or Watertown branch.