Food Pantries

[deucemagnet]

Hi All,
I haven't been very active on DU lately, but I want to remind you all of something very important. I've been working at a university in southern West Virginia for several years now, and part of every fall semester is food and clothing drives to benefit local food pantries.

If you're reading this forum, you're probably aware of the crushing poverty in West Virginia. While all donations to food pantries are appreciated, there are a few things in particular that seem to always be in short supply. One thing is socks. While people generously donate used clothing, they generally just use socks until they wear out. New socks in all sizes make for a good donation. Another thing is non-perishable foods that are ready to eat. Individuals who need to rely on a food pantry for a while may not have a functioning stove, microwave, or refrigerator, and may not even have power. Non-perishable food that is ready to eat can be a lifeline for such people.

My girlfriend and I have decided to donate to charity rather than exchange gifts this year. We are going to discuss charities later today, but my suggestion is going to be that we donate to a local food pantry. While I realize that not exchanging gifts is not for everyone, I ask that you consider putting your local food pantry on your gift list this holiday season.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and happy holidays to you and yours!