7 ways you can support your local food bank

If there are 10 houses on your street or in your neighborhood, it's likely that a family in one of them is making hard choices right now.

With a limited budget, do they buy groceries? Pay the electric bill? Refill a necessary prescription? Cover the rent?

Often, the groceries come last.

Food insecurity — not being able to consistently get enough affordable, healthy food — affects about 1 in 10 households in America. In the Pacific Northwest, it's closer to 1 in 5, many of whom are single parents with young children.

"Food insecurity isn't only about missing meals," says Liz Cattin, a registered dietitian and director of community health for PeaceHealth in Southwest Washington. "It can have a big impact on your physical and mental health, especially for kids and older adults."

4 ways hunger affects our quality of life

When you don't have enough to eat or can't afford nutritious options, it affects your life in many ways.

1. Food insecurity may raise your risk of heart disease, diabetes and other serious conditions because of a lack of access to healthy food. If you already have diabetes or heart disease, it's also harder to follow the diets recommended to manage these conditions.
2. Kids who lack nutritious food have trouble concentrating in school and may have a harder time learning in the long term. In older adults, research has found a link between food scarcity and dementia.
3. The stress of not knowing where your next meal will come from can raise your risk of anxiety and depression.
4. People who experience food insecurity go to the ER and the hospital more often. This can lead to higher healthcare costs, which can cause more stress.

"Food insecurity isn't about needing more nutrition education," Cattin says. "People know which foods are healthy. It's about not having access to those foods. The foods that are most accessible for people with limited resources tend to be high in calories, fat and sugar, which contributes to health challenges."

With so much at stake, what can we do about food insecurity in our communities? A good place to start is by supporting your local food bank.

How food banks help address hunger

Food banks play a key role in getting food to people who need it. They collect, store and distribute supplies to local agencies. Food banks also reduce waste in our food system by redistributing food when it's still safe to eat, but grocery stores can't sell it due to use-by dates or other factors. 

Your community's food pantry, soup kitchen or shelter likely works with a food bank to get nutritious meals to its patrons. And with grocery costs rising, food banks are helping more people than ever.

Right now, food banks nationwide are having a tough time. While more and more people need their help, the U.S. government has cut money for food programs. This means food banks have less food to give out.

"Many people don't realize that food bank users include working families, older adults on fixed incomes, and people facing temporary hardships," says Cattin, who serves on the board of a Southwest Washington food bank.

"A significant number of people who need food banks don't qualify for SNAP benefits (food stamps),” she adds. “They end up in this gap where they make too much to qualify for assistance, but not enough to fully feed their families."

7 practical ways to support your food bank

You don't need special skills or lots of time to make a difference. Here are practical ways to help the food bank in your area:

1. Give money if you can. Food banks can often get food at wholesale prices. Giving money helps them buy fresh produce and proteins they won’t be able to get from donated supplies.
2. Volunteer your time. Food banks need help sorting donations, packing boxes, delivering food and staffing events. Even a few hours a month can make a difference.

3. Donate priority items. The most needed supplies usually include:

   • Proteins (peanut butter, canned chicken, canned tuna)
   • Whole grains
   • Canned fruit in juice (not syrup)
   • Low-salt canned vegetables
   • Pantry staples

   Your food bank's website or social media feed may list its specific needs.

4. Share your skills. Are you good with computers, social media or organizing? Do you speak a language other than English? Do you understand the cultural needs of your community? Food banks need these skills, too.
5. Organize a food drive. Partner with your workplace, school, faith community, sports team or other groups to collect donations. Contact your food bank first to learn what they need most. Consider organizing drives during less busy times of year. Many donations come during the holidays, but food banks need supplies year 'round.
6. Grow extra produce. If you garden, consider planting an extra row to donate fresh veggies to your food bank. It's a good idea to contact them first to see if they can take home-grown produce. If not, you could set up a free produce bin by your house, or create a "give and take" table where neighbors can exchange garden bounty.
7. Raise awareness. "There's still a lot of stigma around needing help with food," Cattin says. Because of that, many people don't understand how common food insecurity is, or its impact. Share information on social media or in conversations with your social circle to spread the word.

Get to know your local food bank

To connect with food programs in your area:

• Use the Feeding America food bank locator.
• Visit PeaceHealth's community resources page.
• Call 211 for information about local resources.
• Check with your city or county government website.

"The most important thing to remember is that every contribution matters," says Cattin. "Whether you donate one can of food or volunteer often, you're helping make it easier for everyone to access the nutrition they need."