Ten Things Food Banks Need Most

Food Banks need food all year round. We know that. For some reason, though, it's this time of year that reminds us that our neighbors might be going without. Is it the cold? The holidays? Both?

Go through your cabinets today, see what you can part with and bring it down to the local food bank. They are so happy to accept anything.  If you want to make donating part of your weekly grocery shopping, here are the top ten things food banks always need:

1.  Holiday foods.  Like Stove Top stuffing, cranberry sauce, and canned yams.

2.  Canned vegetables.  The low-sodium kind are best.

3.  Mixed nuts.  They're kind of expensive, so not many people donate them.

4.  Pasta.  The whole grain kind is best.

5.  Rice and beans.  And things like couscous and quinoa are good too.

6.  Juice boxes.  They like to have them around for kids, especially the kind that are 100% juice.

7.  Canned tuna, canned chicken, and canned salmon.

8.  Cereal and oatmeal.  So they can make something quick for breakfast.

9.  Canned soup.  Things like Dinty Moore beef stew are also good.

10.  Cooking oil.  Especially olive oil and canola oil.