In article <r1bdo.1210$Hu7.655@hurricane>,
Nancy Young > wrote:
>Charlotte L. Blackmer wrote:
>
>> If I see something that is "coming up", I'll try to use it fast,
>> whether for myself or the soup kitchen.
>
>You're involved with a soup kitchen? I have a question for you,
>if you don't mind.
>
>Is it better to give money rather than food, can they maximize
>a dollar better than most individuals? I've often wondered.

Cash is always useful . My program serves once a month, we don't have
freezer or a lot of cabinet storage, and we have a particular number, so
unless the food comes at a particular time and is something we can use
for dinner for 140/lunch for 100, it won't help us. I have working
relationships and phone numbers on speed dial for a couple of other
programs so I can send people their way if asked.

Cash also enables programs to buy things like foil that they won't find at
a food bank or likely be able to beg from grocers.

I urge people to give cash not cans whenever possible to our Food Bank
because their wholesale/bulk deals can turn $1 into $6-$7 worth of
groceries - which includes fresh seasonal produce. If it's available to
member agencies at the Food Bank, we get similar savings (as only one
example, the produce is free to us). Our budget increased dramatically
($250 monthly to $400-plus) when we stopped being able to reliably find meat
at the FB. Even when we shop at Costco/Grocery Outlet/Cash and Carry and
use it for "flavoring", buying it for over 200 people costs money.

Charlotte

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