Little, inexpensive ways to help your neighbors →[More:]A friend of mine asked about good things to help needy families. I used to work in a shelter for homeless families and individuals. We were also an emergency food bank, so I know the kind of things that don't get donated and people could really use. I figured some of y'all might be thinking of donating to your local food bank as well.

Here's my list!
1. Can openers. Seriously, we donate tons of canned food, but forget that people need to get into them.

2. Canned meats, like tuna and chicken. Protein is rarely donated. People can't live on canned veggies alone. Ravioli and such are great. Try to find pop-top cans. (fyi-Vegans generally go for the peanut butter, which is rarely in short supply.)

3. Pillows. For shelters, these are a must. Most pillows walk out the door with their former user.

4. SOCKS! Socks are so important to shelter clients. Mens' tube socks are best, because they will fit just about anyone and are long and warm.

5. Jelly. If you want to give a treat, jelly is always popular and in short supply. Same with juice. This is especially true for recovering addicts, as the sugar gives a little replacement lift. That may sound bad, but trust me, drinking a glass of juice might keep a person from returning to something much worse. Plus, it's healthy!

Use ziplock bags instead of foil if you donate cookies. The bags get reused for keeping personal items dry.

I hope this is helpful. :)