Having access to healthy balanced diet food plays a critical role in combating undernourishment. With the far-reaching effects cost by the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of supporting food distribution with healthy food is even more relevant given the economic and health challenges faced by the vulnerable in society. Throughout the year, Built to Serve collaborates with like-minded partners across the globe to focus their efforts on helping millions of the most in need people during these tough times by providing healthy food donations. We also offer medical screening and supplies as well as educational support.
Through our combined efforts, the elderly, minority families, people who are working or are between jobs, youth surviving on their own, people living with mental illness and people living with disabilities can all access healthy food. With high cost of living, fixed income or low wages making it difficult for people to stretch their food dollars through the month, Built to Serve offers them access to the fresh fruits and vegetables needed for good health.
What are the healthy foods can I donate?
Food distribution centers aim to offer healthy foods to fight hunger by people in under-served communities access to healthy and nutritious foods. For the most nutritious impact, consider foods that have a high protein content, whole grain, low sodium, and low. Some high priorities healthy foods for donations include:
- Canned fish or meat like canned salmon, tuna and chicken
- Nut butter such as almond butter, sunflower butter, or peanut butter
- Assorted nuts, seeds and soy nuts
- Canned black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans and lentils
- Dried fruit and canned fruit canned
- Low sodium canned stews, soups and broths
- Baked beans and legumes
- Canned vegetables and tomatoes
- Canned dairy products such as UHT milk, evaporated milk, instant skim milk powder
- Whole grain cereals such as rice, oatmeal, and pasta
- Infant formula and food
Also, many grocery stores have made it easier for you to make food donations through the collection boxes strategically placed near the exits with some stores offering food for purchase and donation.
Other ways to donate to a food distribution
There are several other ways through which you can support community food distribution centers:
- Cash donations
- Purchasing BC Sharing coupons
- Organizing food drives
- Become a volunteer
Foods to avoid to a food distribution
While are there numerous types of foods that you can donate to a food distribution center, here among the few that you should avoid donating:
- Expired foods
- Alcohol and alcoholic beverages
- Homemade foods
- Opened packages
