Food Lifeline is the Young Professionals of Seattle (YPCSeattle) Q1, 2024 Impact Partner
We constantly aim to provide opportunities for Community Members to come together and make a meaningful impact on the lives of our neighbors in need, often times by doing the activities we already enjoy doing. By joining forces with Food Lifeline, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating hunger in Western Washington, we aim to collectively support their efforts to alleviate food insecurity and foster a stronger, more resilient community.
This What-to-Give guide is designed to provide you with a comprehensive list of high demand foods to choose from to make your donation count. Together, let's fill our hearts and pantries with compassion as we work towards ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious meals.
Here are a few guidelines and ideas for what food is in high demand:
WHAT FOOD SHOULD I GIVE?
Fruits and Vegetables:
Low-sodium or water packed canned vegetables, including tomatoes and tomato sauce can easily be obtained and are great alternatives to their fresh counterparts.
Canned fruit juice in 100% juice or lite syrup are great sources of Vitamin C because only a small amount of it is lost in the canning process.
100% fruit and vegetable juices in all container forms are welcome, including canned, plastic, and boxed.
Dried fruits and vegetables with no added sugar or fat
Proteins:
Low-sodium or water packed canned meats and seafood such as chicken, tuna, salmon, and clams are high in protein, low in saturated fats, and rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Dried beans, peas, and lentils are high in fiber and low-fat sources of protein.
Low sodium canned beans and peas such as kidney, black, cannellini, black eyed, and chickpeas are high in fiber and low-fat sources of protein.
Dairy and Dairy Substitutes:
Shelf stable milk or non-dairy alternatives such as soy and almond milk are great sources of Vitamin D and calcium. In addition, shelf-stable and dehydrated milk and canned evaporated milk are also encouraged.
100% Whole Grain:
Whole-wheat pasta, barley, brown rice, and wild rice are complex carbohydrates. They contain good sources of fiber, which are more satiating and filling.
Whole-grain cereal and rolled oats with at least 3g of fiber such as breakfast cereals can be additional sources of vitamins and minerals. Low-sugar or unsweetened cereals and oats are also highly encouraged.
Healthy Fats:
Low-sodium nuts and nut butters such as peanuts, almonds, and cashews are rich in protein and fiber. They also contain “good fats” and vitamins that are known to positively support heart health, such as mono-saturated and poly-unsaturated fats, omega-3 fatty acids, and Vitamin E.
HOW TO GIVE
We are excited to invite you to participate in our Q1 2024 Food Drive in collaboration with our Impact Partner, Food Lifeline! We'll have drop boxes set up at any of our Seattle happy hour locations through March of 2024 - and will continue adding locations as we go. BUT, if you're not so into carrying physical food items around, you can always donate through our Amazon Wishlist page:
MORE FOOD LIFELINE DRIVE INFO...
3 THINGS TO REMEMBER (Click to Expand)
SHELF STABLE FOOD DRIVE LIST (Click to Expand)
Thank you for getting this far! Your interest in helping us achieve our mission in supporting our community means the world. For more information on how we're working with Food Lifeline for the quarter please visit our Q1 2024 Impact Partner page.
And as always, if you have any ideas around how we can collectively create impact in your community, please consider joining the team or taking the 2024 Community Impact Survey.
