MANHATTAN − Bought too much food preparing for Hurricane Irene?
Manhattanites with bulging kitchen cabinets might consider donating their surplus food to area pantries, say food pantry officials.
Carol Schneider with the Food Bank For New York City said the organization is encouraging people who bought surplus food in preparation of Hurricane Irene to donate non-perishable items to nearby shelters.
“It’s best to give to folks in their community,” Schneider said, noting that many food pantries and soup kitchens are open to donations.
Food pantries are looking for what Schneider calls “shelf-stable” foods; foods that haven not been cooked, or are nonperishable. Ideal foods to donate are rice, beans, pasta, cereals and canned goods.
Schneider says that teh Food Bank for New York City provides 400,000 free meals a day through its network of 1,000 community-based programs citywide. To get the word out on donating surplus food from people that stocked up for Hurricane Irene, Schneider said the Food Bank of New York City has taken to Twitter and Facebook to raise awareness.
He said those interested in donating can find a food pantry near them on the Food Bank for New York City’s website, where they can search by borough, neighborhood or zip code.
The call for surplus food donations comes as many food banks continue to struggle with increased demand and lower donations during a weak economy.
Cesar Vinas, a receptionist with the Good Shepherd Food Pantry based out of Good Shepherd Church in Inwood on Broadway and Isham Street, said its food pantry always accepts donations and will accept surplus food purchased in preparation for Hurricane Irene, although the church has not seen any increased donations since the storm.
Vinas said the church's food pantry will accept anything at its church rectory so long as the food does not "have an expiration date."
