Feeding the Hungry in America

December 12, 2009 By Ruthellen S. Rubin, CFRE

Thank you Susan Dominus and the New York Times for a half page and big color picture explaining why holiday food drives rarely help feed the hungry.  To Feed the Hungry, Spread the Word:  Cash is Preferred Over Cans offers a much needed and long overdue lesson:  hungry people do not want "cans of water chestnuts" or "bloody mary mix." 

Read the article yourself to see the facts.  However, I will add one coda to the paragraph that describes how there is a satisfying "thunk" when one puts a can in a collection bin...or how your kid can see and hold a can donation...  We owe our kids more than that.  Let's teach our kids the economics of donating money to feed the hungry and how with $50 a food bank can buy 200 boxes of cereal (rather than the 10 you can get at the grocery store).

Some progressive food banks have created educational and engaging virtual food drives.  Check out Manna Food Bank's  Mannafest Neighborhood Food Drive.   The Greater Chicago Food Depository's Virtual Food Drive  has a really cool drag and drop feature where your family can fill a grocery cart.  It's way more satisfying than the "thunk" of a can of sardines in a barrel.