Food charities come in all shapes and sizes. Some are associated with a large charitable organization while others are small, local ones. The needs for donations and services will also vary depending on how the group is structured. There are groups that feed the homeless or seniors while other pass out bags of groceries to families in need. Some groups work to provide meals on a daily basis while others are more prominent during the holiday season. The economy’s role The down economy has changed many people’s lives. While the economy is on the upswing according to some, not everyone feels the same way. People that were unemployed may now have jobs but not the same level of pay or benefits that they had previously. With less income, people are less likely to donate cash or food to local food charities. This has left many groups with less to work with but more people to serve. In areas of the country that still have double-digit unemployment this can be a hard obstacle to overcome. Where donations come from A food charity can obtain funds from a variety of places. While private donations are the basis for many groups, there are also things like grants and corporate donations. Some food manufacturers also donate such as bakeries that produce too much in one day. There are also grocery stores that give food that is about to expire to some charities that serve meals on site. There are also occasions in which a restaurant may have leftover food to donate, especially if they have hosted an event of some kind. People often tie the idea of donating cash or non-perishable food to the winter holiday season. While these food drives help people immensely, the fact is that the need is all year long. People may want to think about hosting a drive seasonally or even monthly to support their favorite group. Other methods charities use to cut costs Many charities work with local grocers to obtain bulk discounts. This works to a point but some may use other sources for bulk food. There are companies that specialize in providing bulk food supplies to charities and have connections of all kinds within the food industry. These companies can often craft a special program for charities by pulling together the various resources they have. Many groups have used these companies to help them to create menus if they serve food at the site.
Related Articles -
Food, Charities,
|