I hate food drives

[InsomniacInkRoss]

Hear me out...

 

I was walking out of Pick n' Save and there is a pack of OREOs in the Hunger Task Force food bin, this just got me thinking about what a crapy set up that food bin is

 

Why should people pay retail prices for food to donate in a bin? Why should the store profit on this exchange? Why would people donate oreos?

 

On top of the store making money on it, which pisses me off, money is being spent on someone picking up the bin, transport of the bin, sorting of the bin, storage of the items, etc.

 

If people really wanted to help they should give cash to the place directly. That would cut out an insane amount of hassle and wasted funds, and money can buy GOOD food at wholesale prices. I have heard from people in the organizations about the endless amounts of canned green whatever that can last them for 4 years.

 

So, in summary, give money to charitys, so it can be used the most effectively.

 

Unless they are crooked or someone is embezzaling.

[homer]

So you want to give them cash so they can turn around and buy food from the same store you don't want them to buy food from in the first place?

 

I know people that work at food banks and they tend to throw out junk food if there is an over abundance of it.

[DHonks]

Food drives are all about people like me. That is, they are about people that believe in the goodness of humanity, but don't schedule the time to drive food to a food bank on a consistant basis. It's a much more convenient reminder to just donate it when buying it.

[temke]

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So you want to give them cash so they can turn around and buy food from the same store you don't want them to buy food from in the first place?

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I think he was saying give money so that they can pool the money and buy more stuff at a wholesale price...form maybe sam's club or a food distrubutor.

[Paul77]

People are lazy. How many people do you think really make a special trip to a local food pantry? Not many. Perhaps in an ideal world, but not this one.

 

Second, if it makes you feel any better those are non perishable food bins. It's only going to get profitable for the store when you start tossing in frozen meals with a 39% profit margin or a nice cut of meat at 28% not the can of corn at 3%.

[twobrewers]

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On top of the store making money on it, which pisses me off, money is being spent on someone picking up the bin, transport of the bin, sorting of the bin, storage of the items, etc.

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I have worked for Non-Profits in the past. I am not interested in ever doing it again.

 

Your point is well taken here. Most non-profits employ lots of employees who are collecting paycheck without making the world a much better place. (Or donating anything back)

 

I give generously to any non-profit that has no employees and everyone involved is donating their time. As soon as people start collecting a check and it becomes their "job" the mission is soon lost - and they look out for themselves instead of the cause.

 

I don't donate to any cause the has employees anymore. And I feel my money is being used much better. (Since 100% is going to the mission)

[InsomniacInkRoss]

I don't think it's a matter of even needing to drive to the food bank

 

"Round Up" for the hungry is a great idea, round each order up to the nearest quarter or dollar, cash goes to the cause. I would do that but I only shop at PnS.

 

I am sure somewhere like the Hunger Taskforce doesn't shop in a retail store

 

I hope no one is putting meat or frozen meals in the bin, haha

[dadofandrew]

I'm sure many kids appreciate Oreos given, a lot more than a bagful of ramen and refried beans.

[mothershipconnection]

You're best off simply donating your money. As was mentioned, they typically have hook ups to buy food at extremely low prices and even get stuff donated by manufacturers - their problem is the cost of transporting everything, which you can help by donating cash. I volunteered at a food pantry and the problem didn't seem to be the amount of food, but the manpower to sort through it all and prepare it for distribution.