Children represent nearly 50 percent of the individuals served by Hunger Task Force programs! Be sure to donate healthy and nutritious food items that families would want in their cupboards. Check your donation to be sure it's not expired, damaged, unlabelled or opened. With preferred food items, food pantries can provide adequate emergency food to a family for 2-3 days. Children, the elderly and the ill are less likely to suffer from under-nutrition or malnutrition when they receive a diet of preferred food items.

The following are useful non-perishable food donations:

• Vegetables: Canned corn, green beans, carrots and peas
• Breakfast Items: Dry cereal, oatmeal, grits and pancake mixes
• Fruit and Juice: Canned pears, apricots, pineapple and peaches
• Baby Items: Powdered or concentrated infant formula (Nestle Good Start), food, diapers
• Dinner Items: Pastas, rice (plain or mixes), potato mixes, macaroni and cheese dinners
• Protein: Canned meat, poultry, fish, peanut butter, beans, nuts and high-protein main dishes such as chili and stews
• Lunch Items: Canned or dry soups (vegetable, tomato, chicken and pea)