Food insecurity is something that no person should have to worry about. The Vista del Camino Food Bank works to alleviate this issue in the Scottsdale community by providing food to those who need it. The Vista del Camino Food Bank was created to reduce hunger and malnutrition in the City of Scottsdale. The Vista Del Camino Food Bank distributes much-needed staples like bread, rice, and beans. Their goal is to give every person enough nutritious food for an entire week.
As you can see food banks are a vital part of the community. There are many other reasons why your community needs a food bank, read on to find out what they are.
1. They Help Families in Crisis
The federal government has cut SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, or food stamps, three times since late 2013 which means that more than 46 million people will face reduced food assistance throughout the country. For those living paycheck to paycheck, this is devastating news because the United States Department of Agriculture estimates that 45% percent of all food stamp recipients live off $3 per day or less for their meals – this is obviously very hard to do with only $45 per week for groceries. The Vista del Camino Food Bank helps many families who have been affected by these cuts and need some assistance to get food on the table until their financial situation changes.
2. It’s a Great Way to Build Connections within the Community
Most people who receive food from your local food bank are in need and may not be able to contribute anything in return, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to help somehow! These families can participate in volunteer opportunities where they can give back by helping to sort and package donations. This is also a great opportunity for anyone who needs some extra time to add to their resume or hours for school credit or as an outing for local businesses while making a difference in someone else’s life.
3. A Food Bank Shows the Community That You are Committed to Caring for Others
You will become known as a group of people who care for people in need of food assistance. This is because you’re providing food for those who are unable to feed themselves or their families in times of struggle. You can be assured that there are many eyes on what a community does to help those in need, so it is in your best interest to establish yourself as someone who understands how important it is to give back and strengthen the connections within your neighborhood. If anyone asks how they can help, let them know that donating money or time would be greatly appreciated by everyone involved with your local food bank!
4. It’s One of the Most Efficient Ways of Giving Back
Many people want to help out in their community but are unsure of where they can do so. A food bank will receive food donations from all over the city to distribute to local families who need them. One thing that is always consistent is that there will be enough food given each day to those that are facing hardship.
5. Food Banks Allow Anyone in Need to Receive Food Assistance
Anyone living below the poverty line has access to receiving food assistance from food banks that are within the local community. There is no screening process and people don’t have to be of a certain age or profession to receive any help they can get. This is because the one main purpose of local food banks is to provide anyone who needs them with food whenever possible without denying them for any reason like race, religion, or even sexual preference.
It’s important to remember that federal poverty guidelines change every year so what you can give one year may not be available another.
6. They can Save Nonprofit Organizations a lot of Time
Nonprofits, like Scottsdale Community Partners, churches, and schools can be a huge help to food banks because they take in donations from their own community via monetary or in-kind donations and pass them onto the food bank. This way those nonprofits can focus on raising awareness within communities and pass along any donors to the food banks.
7. People Love to Give Back at Holiday Time!
From Thanksgiving to Christmas many food banks are overwhelmed by the number of people wanting nothing more than to help others during these times of the year or make a difference in someone’s life for the better. The truth is that giving back should not only be done on certain days but every day because there are always those who live below the poverty line and may not know where their next meal will come from. Plus, when you give someone food they can use right away you’re providing them with an immediate solution that makes them feel loved and cared for.
8. They Accept Food that People Don’t Eat or Animals
People can be fickle when it comes to what they want to eat, especially kids! This means you may find yourself with jars of peanut butter or bags of rice that won’t be used for meals. Since food banks need healthy foods to distribute these products are perfect for helping fill food bags with delicious and necessary items.
Some food banks will provide food for animals as well. This helps alleviate a lot of stress a pet owner has when needing to feed their entire family. Just bring in unopened dry or wet food that your animal doesn’t eat or like, and the donation center will make sure any pet food donation will find a good home.
9. Food Banks are the Perfect Place for Excess Perishable Items from Grocery Stores
Anytime there is an overstock on perishable goods grocery stores will give them away since they cannot sell items that have an expiration date. Whether they’re from a grocery store or from your own garden, food banks can take them in and distribute them to those who need them most!
10. They Help Make Communities Stronger
Food banks are not only beneficial because of what they provide but how much work goes into making sure every person receives the same amount of care no matter where they live. For example, parents without reliable transportation or who are caring for their child all by themselves may not be able to get food on the same day a single father or a family with a working adult can. This doesn’t mean that anyone person is more important than the next but it does mean that they’re going to have different needs when it comes down to it and a local community food bank will do what they can for everyone involved depending on what’s going on in their lives. No one should be left behind if there’s a chance you can help!
Remember, every community needs a food bank because they make such an impact no matter how big or small of an area you live in. Plus, the people who run these organizations are some of the most amazing staff and volunteers out there that just want to help the people who need it most.
If you would like to donate any food items, please see the current food donation needs for the Vista del Camino Food Bank.
