Love Your Local Food Pantry

If advertisers are to be believed, we show love with things that are pink, red, heart-shaped, and full of chocolate. While we certainly wouldn’t say no to chocolate, there are more thoughtful ways to show love. One way is to donate homegrown fruit and vegetables. Fresh food often isn’t available to families struggling with food insecurity. So freshly picked apples or a basket of zucchini can be a real treat.

Giving any gift is always so much better when you know it is needed. For Valentine’s Day, we listened to what food pantries told us. Who knows best what their clients’ needs are but the food pantry? For Valentine’s Day, we asked food pantries to let us know what fresh produce they would love to receive from gardeners throughout the growing season.

For example, clients at Holly Springs Food Cupboard would love okra! Potatoes and broccoli are big hits at  West Central Community Action Shelby County Food Pantry, University of Montana Food Pantry, and Project Outreach. Tomatoes top the list at Frankfort Township Food Pantry and New Milford Food Bank. Check out all of the pantries that responded below. Plus we’ve posted their stories on our social media channels to help spread the word!

Gardeners used to have an idea of what types of food were needed at food pantries, but now they can know for sure. Gardeners can plan better in the upcoming season for what they can grow and donate.

We encourage you to find your local food pantry and ask what they need most. Then visit our new online resource, Producepedia for some fun facts and nutritional types on frequently donated produce. Please print a copy for each type of produce you bring to the food pantry, and leave it with food when you drop it off.

Share the love this Valentine’s Day!