It feels good to take part in a food drive or drop off a bag of groceries at your local food pantry, but how do you know if what you donated was really helpful? We asked Amy Marburger, food and nutrition manager of the CrossNet Ministries, and Kerri Burns, market director at The Factory Ministries, to talk about donations that are especially appreciated and those that are a little harder to distribute.

CrossNet's food pantry serves close to 200 local families monthly, and Burns said that more than 35 families per week shop at The Factory Market. Marburger stated that all in-date items are welcome, but that donations that fall into the personal care items category are often the most appreciated. Marburger listed shampoo, conditioner, body wash, dish detergent, laundry detergent, hand soap, paper towels, and facial tissues among those items that are not donated as often. Over at The Factory, Burns said that she would add plastic silverware and toilet paper to the list, along with canned meats, water, and laundry detergent.

Both pantries like to see certain non-food items, such as can openers and slow cookers, come through the door. "You can never go wrong donating a can opener or a Crock-Pot," shared Burns. "Those are game changers (for Factory participants)."

Marburger agreed. "I would also add that gently used kitchen utensils and/or cookware are welcome," she stated. "These items are displayed on a 'free' shelf and are appreciated by local families when they are available."

"Many people are surprised to know that feminine hygiene products and other personal care items are not covered by SNAP benefits," Burns said. "For this reason, people are excited to see them in the pantry." Marburger noted that feminine hygiene products and deodorant are always needed and that CrossNet has seen a special need for baby items such as in-date formula, food, and cereal. Donations of diapers in sizes 4, 5, and 6 and pull-ups are welcome, as are baby wipes.

At CrossNet, Marburger has not seen pantry needs change drastically from season to season, but she said that needs for items for other programs do. "(In the spring), we are prepping for the summer lunch (program), so cookies or (crisped rice) treats (will be needed)," Marburger said, adding that in the summer of 2024, nearly 13,000 lunches were served. Cereal cups and individual macaroni and cheese cups are helpful for the Buddy Bag and Student Pantry programs. Foods that Marburger feels are needed all year include baking items such as sugar and oil.

"I agree with Amy," stated Burns. "Our list doesn't change too much from season to season, but in the winter, it's nice to have coffee, tea, hot chocolate, hand warmers, and ChapStick." Burns stated that in the summer, needs are more related to children being home from school, so it is helpful to receive canned pastas, soup, and sunblock.

When it comes to soups, which are a staple, the managers of both pantries have seen a preference among participants. "Many of our families prefer chunkier or heartier soups over condensed versions, and (while) we always need basics like cream of chicken or condensed chicken noodle, we often have a nice supply of those items," said Marburger. More variety in cracker and cereal donations - not just saltine crackers and plain Cheerios - would be welcome as well. Surprisingly, condiments are not common donations. "We always need ketchup, but we rarely have items like mayonnaise available," she said. Burns added mustard, pickles, and salad dressing to Marburger's list.

Extra-large containers of food or detergent are not always easy to distribute, according to Burns. "When someone donates something extra large, only one lucky person gets to take home that item," she pointed out. "However, when multiple smaller items are donated, more people are able to be served." She added that shoppers who are living in their vehicles have limited space and that some recipients may not be able to handle large items easily.

Marburger admitted that it is sometimes difficult to find a fit for large donations. While large bottles of liquid detergent work for big families, extra-large cans of food linger on the shelf. "We struggle to use the commercial-size cans of vegetables," said Marburger.

During the growing season, the CrossNet pantry partners with a farm and an orchard - receiving about 500 pounds of produce weekly. However, the pantry also appreciates donations of home-grown produce, and Marburger invites those interested in donating food from their gardens to call CrossNet at 717-355-2454 first.

Burns noted that The Factory Market handles fresh produce a little differently. "We receive about 500 pounds of produce a month from a partner agency, and we rely on our neighbors to drop off things from their gardens," she said. "Shoppers get excited when we have fresh produce in the pantry."

Burns had one last recommendation for donors. "I would love to add that while name-brand products are often great, they're not always essential." She noted that often a larger quantity of a store brand item can be donated for the same amount of money.

Readers who would like to learn more about The Factory and its mission may visit https://thefactoryministries.com or call 717-687-9594. More information about CrossNet may be found at https://elancocross.org.