How to Donate Food Before Moving

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    How to Donate Food Before Moving

    There are a lot of different parts involved in moving that easily go overlooked until the last couple of days in the process. One of the biggest considerations that are often not even considered until the time comes is where to pack or store your food before moving, or what to do with perishables or items you can’t bring along with you.

    When it comes to figuring out what to do with your food before moving, you might wonder where to donate excess food, or what you can do to cut down on food waste before your relocation. In this blog, we’ll run you through the best places to donate food before moving, as well as how to prepare your donations.

    Where to Donate Food Before a Move?

    For those who already have too much food before moving and are looking for places to donate these items too, you must first consider what sort of items you’ll be donating. Many food banks won’t take overly perishable items due to their quick expiration, so if you have a lot of products or items expiring soon, try to use them up yourself before moving day. You can also look up a food bank or one of the ones below for more in-depth information as to what items they accept and what they don’t.

    The following are some of the most reputable food banks for donation before a move:

    • Feeding America

    This national organization has locations all over the country that will accept your food donations. As one of the longest-running food banks in the country, Feeding America has over 200 locations across the United States that distribute food to those experiencing food insecurity. Just last year, Feeding America was able to distribute 4 billion meals by sending food to pantries and supplying meal programs.

    Feeding America has an online tool that lets you find the nearest location near you and will point you toward the location’s drop-off times and individual donation requirements.

    • Feed More

    This foodbank primarily services the East Coast and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Serving 34 counties and cities throughout the East Coast, this organization not only provides meals to those in need, specifically children and the elderly through its programs, but also has partnerships with Meals on Wheels, the Hunger Hotline, and other food services.

    If you’re interested in donating to Feed More, first see if they have a location in your area. They primarily accept canned foods and nonperishable items.

    • Second Harvest Food Bank

    This organization also has locations all over the country to help struggling communities and help affect food insecurity in the United States. Each location operates independently, but all have the same mission. These locations accept individual donations and larger ones from grocery stores and farmers to help limit waste. They also provide health management classes and pediatric care for those they help.

    To find a Second Harvest Food Bank near you, you can search the term with your location to see if one is currently accepting donations near you.

    For food banks local to South Carolina, consider donating your food items to the following organizations:

    • Harvest Hope Food Bank

    As the largest food bank in South Carolina, Harvest Hope has helped provide over 50,000 meals weekly for residents of the state. As it services over 20 counties in the state (as well as having two emergency food pantries in Greenville or Columbia), you’ll be able to find one near you in the state easily.

    • Lowcountry Food Bank

    Lowcountry Food Bank has been in operation since 1983 and services 10 coastal counties in South Carolina. Their mission is to fight and advocate for those experiencing food insecurity in the state, with a specific focus on addressing child hunger. This program helps children and their families by partnering with schools and community organizations to feed those in need.

    • Feeding the Carolinas

    This network of 10 Feeding America food banks specifically focuses on addressing food insecurity in North and South Carolina. This network services and supports over 4,000 local charities to address food insecurity across the states.

    How to Donate Non-Perishable Food?

    Before donating items to the food bank of your choice, ensure that you have done the right preparations and have properly scoped out your items to ensure they’re in the right condition for donation.

    After researching your food bank and deciding where to bring your items, look up your food bank’s specific guidelines regarding what they accept. Gather up your items and make sure to double-check that these donations adhere to the location’s standards.

    After gathering your possible donations, double-check their expiration dates to ensure nothing has expired or is about to. Inspect the packaging of the items and weed out anything rusty, dented, or anything that has been crushed or damaged. Never donate anything you might be concerned about leaking, either.

    Once you’ve thoroughly inspected these items, it’s time to bring them down to your local food bank or pantry! Adhere to the location’s specified drop-off times to avoid any inconvenience or confusion.

    Looking for the right movers to make your relocation easier, so you can focus on donating your food items and planning for your move? See what Carey Moving & Storage can do for you and your family today.

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