Ask Amy: Vacation times are affected by interlopers
– Grateful
Dear Grateful: This is great advice. Thank you.
Dear Amy: As the manager of a food pantry, I have a message to all the well-intentioned individuals planning on a food drive to support the local food pantry: Before your organization starts a food drive, please contact the pantry and speak with the manager or check their website for a list of most-needed items.
In my experience much of the product donated at these food drives are a result of people emptying their own kitchen pantries of items that are expired, oddball purchases, or even half used.
Often less than half the donated items find it onto our shelves. We do try our best to find a home for the other half – bring it to another pantry whose clients can and will use it, or we regretfully need to throw it out (that basting oil dated 2006).
I know it feels good to have collected enough product to fill multiple cars, drop it off, take pictures and then repeat another time.
However, consider the recipients and their hard-working volunteers. We are grateful for the good intentions, but wish people took more care with their donations.
– A Food Pantry Manager
Dear Manager: Thank you for the work you do, and for this very helpful advice.
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(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
©2023 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
