my neighborhood started a DIY food pantry system next to our Little Library, with big plastic bins people put food inside.
it's a nice idea, but I think the people stocking it have never had to rely on food assistance before... there's lots of cans of beans and boxes of pasta.
when I was a young artist I was absolutely skint and needed food banks. they always have beans and pasta. you can go to any food pantry and get beans and pasta out the wazoo.
but if your neighborhood also has a DIY food pantry, here's a list of what I think is actually the most useful to leave there. stuff that you need to make a meal, not eat rice and beans and buttered noodles until you lose your mind. this might be most useful for other North Americans, but hopefully it gives everyone some ideas:
root vegetables - carrots, onions, potatoes. cheap vitamin C.
bags of apples, citruses too if it's the right temperature outside
spices, condiments, seasonings and cooking oils
those little containers of lemon/lime juice, jars of minced garlic
canned fruits. peaches, olives, even jams and jellies
peanut butter, almond butter, all the nut butters
canned soups, low sodium if you can
nuts and seeds, any and all
broths or other cooking bases, pastes like Better Than Bouillon
flour and yeast and baking soda/powder
sweeteners like brown sugar and/or honey
coffee and tea! please for the love of fuck donate coffee lol
grains other than brown/white rice. protein-rich is best. quinoa, farro, couscous, lentils, oats, wild rices
aluminum foil, dish/hand soap and sponges/other scrubbers :)
if you want to help beyond the kitchen, things like body soap, pads (unscented), toilet paper and toothpaste go a long way.
cheers babes. help your neighbors.
