How to Get Help From the Pantry With Food
As the pandemic drags on, its economic fallout is putting an increasing number of Americans in financial dire straits. Nearly one in four Americans faced food insecurity this year, according to a Northwestern University study – up 100 percent from 2019. Among families with children, the need for food aid has tripled. If you are thinking of visiting a food pantry but are not sure if you should qualify first or what it takes to complete or schedule a visit, here’s what you can expect.
What is a food pantry?
You may be familiar with the term food bank, but people go to the wrong place to pick up food. A food bank is an organization that collects and maintains an inventory of food items that are distributed to associated food pantries, canteens, and shelters. If you want to buy something to eat, you go to the pantry . This site has a list of food pantries in your state , searchable by zip code.
Food pantries provide free perishable and non-perishable food items, including dairy products such as milk and cheese, fruits, vegetables, bread, canned food and frozen meat. Depending on the setting, you can shop in a supermarket atmosphere where you pick items off the shelf and then go through the checkout process. Another common approach is the table model, in which people line up for food available at separate tables based on different food groups. Other pantries have pre-loaded boxes for you to pick up. Whatever the remedy, you usually get enough food to last for a few days.
Who uses the pantry for food?
It is a myth that you must be unemployed or in Supplemental Food Assistance (SNAP) to use the pantry. They are used by a wide variety of people, young and old: families, single men and women, single parents or seniors with limited or fixed income. If you can’t make ends meet and need food, don’t be afraid to ask for what you need — there is no shame in using the services that are meant for you.
You can also use the pantry frequently for food. Food aid programs, such as food pantries, are usually a long-term strategy to meet the monthly food deficit. There are no rules against using more than one food bank, although individual food pantries have rules on how often you can visit them per month or per week.
More than just food
Food pantries are not just food. Other essentials may also be available, such as personal care products, paper products, school supplies, diapers, infant formula, baby food, and even gluten or sugar free foods. Volunteers can also help you enroll in SNAP, and literacy and vocational training courses may even be offered.
Tips for using the pantry with food
- Bring documents proving your identity and place of residence.
- Arrive early to avoid queues and taste limited food items such as fresh food, dairy and frozen food.
- Plan your meals more efficiently by going to the grocery pantry before going to the grocery store to collect additional needs, not after.
Thinking of donating to the food bank? Here’s what you need to know. Just remember to donate in cash if you can.