Recommended for you

Start writing a post

News

5 Ways To Help Struggling Food Pantries During COVID-19

Now, more than ever, food pantries need your help.

Kaitlyn Stivers

Jun 09, 2020

Villanova University

Google Images Labeled for Reuse

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented the world with a multitude of unprecedented problems. One of the most pressing issues has been the increased need for food pantry resources. Whether families unexpectedly lost their source of income or those who were previously struggling continue to have a lack of resources, there is an increased demand for food pantry services. Unfortunately, with the social distancing and lockdown measures that have been enforced as a result of COVID-19, many food pantries were unable to function in their normal capacities or unable to function at all. Now, more than ever, food pantries and soup kitchens need your help. Below I have listed 5 easy ways you can help your local food pantry and all of the people who depend on its' resources.

1. Host a food drive

This is a great contactless way to help out. Note that many food pantries are now looking to provide healthy options. Consider asking people to donate cans of white tuna, peanut butter, squeezable apple sauce, canned vegetables and fruits, assorted nuts, beans, granola bars, whole grain crackers, and brown rice.

2. Host a toiletry drive

Toiletries are always accepted by food pantries and are often always on their list of needed inventory. Products such as feminine hygiene products, baby diapers, or hand sanitizer can make a huge difference in the lives of many families and individuals. Consider asking for items such as, but not limited to: hand sanitizer, baby diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, paper towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and home cleaning supplies.

3. Volunteer

During the current pandemic, many food pantries and soup kitchens have been short on volunteers. If you are willing and able, consider volunteering at a local pantry. They have many volunteer opportunities that do not involve coming in contact with others such as shelf stocking and inventory logging. Anything helps!

4. Make meals at home

Some food pantries or relief organizations accept premade meals that are constructed following a set of predetermined guidelines. This can be a great way for you to get involved and do your part to help out. Reach out to your local pantry and ask if they will accept brown bagged lunches or homemade sandwiches.

5. Make a monetary donation

Please consider donating to your local food pantry during this difficult time. You can also consider donating to larger funds such as the Feeding America COVID-19 Response Fund.

The 12 Stages Of Course Registration, As Told By "Friends"

No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

The State University of New York at Stony Brook

3442

YouTube

As college students, we are all familiar with the horror show that is course registration week. Whether you are an incoming freshman or selecting classes for your last semester, I am certain that you can relate to how traumatic this can be.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

Bonus points if it is more than two.

Keep Reading...Show less

registration

Featured

Economic Benefits of Higher Wages

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

Florida International University

301611

Illistrated image of people crowded with banners to support a cause

StableDiffusion

Raising the minimum wage to a livable wage would not only benefit workers and their families, it would also have positive impacts on the economy and society. Studies have shown that by increasing the minimum wage, poverty and inequality can be reduced by enabling workers to meet their basic needs and reducing income disparities.

I come from a low-income family. A family, like many others in the United States, which has lived paycheck to paycheck. My family and other families in my community have been trying to make ends meet by living on the minimum wage. We are proof that it doesn't work.

Keep Reading...Show less

Entertainment

13 Times April Ludgate Perfectly Explained College

Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

1389

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less

april ludgate

Recommended for you

5 Ways To Help Struggling Food Pantries During COVID-19

Now, more than ever, food pantries need your help.

In This Article:

1. Host a food drive

2. Host a toiletry drive

3. Volunteer

4. Make meals at home

5. Make a monetary donation

Subscribe to our Newsletter

No one best represents the struggle like our favorite 90s squad.

1. When course schedules are released and you have a conflict between two required classes.

2. When there is only one section of a popular course.

3. Receiving the 18,000 emails reminding you to register ASAP.

4. When you need to see an advisor, but they are too busy/unresponsive.

5. Trying not to dress like a bum for your appointments with your advisors/department heads.

6. When you have a perfectly planned out schedule, and one class ruins it.

7. Carefully moving things around to accommodate a different class/section.

8. Waking up at 6:00 a.m. for your enrollment time.

9. Concocting a new schedule at your enrollment time after your original plan gets changed.

10. Getting into a class and filling the last available seat.

11. When all of your classes finally go through.

12. Realizing that you forgot a class that was a pre-requisite for everything else.

When your capability of "adulting" is put to the test

Nobody deserves to be living in poverty.

"Nobody living in one of the most influential nations in the world should be worried about making ends meet."

What is the current minimum wage at the federal level?

What are the benefits of raising the minimum wage?

What are the states that have set a $15/hour minimum wage?

Told through Parks & Recreation GIFs

Because who understands your bitterness better than April?

1. When you have to provide an "interesting fact" for your first day ice-breaker.

2. When your professor is babbling on and on in his lecture.

3. When you edit your friend's paper and they get an A.

4. When it's 2 AM and you remember you have a test tomorrow.

5. When you finish taking the test and you're pretty sure you failed...

6. ...but then you get the test back and somehow passed.

7. When you've been up for 12 hours straight writing a paper.

8. And then you manage to stay awake in class the next day.

9. When you have to butter up your professor for an extra credit opportunity.

10. When you're assigned a group project.

11. And your group-mates are trying to chat about life instead of the assignment.

12. When it's your last class of the day and you're about to go home.

13. But then you remember rent is due tonight and the anger comes back.

Trending Topics

Top Creators

Trending Stories

Best of News

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments

Subscribe to our
Newsletter