Feeding hope: How to donate smarter this holiday season
When the U.S. government was shut down this fall, Americans became increasingly aware of how many people rely on anti-hunger programs, especially those paid for with federal and state funds. Nonprofit groups across the country stepped in to fill the gaps.
In 2024, about 41.7 million people received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits each month. And even more people in the U.S. are considered food insecure — more than 47 million people, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
During the holiday season many people choose to give money or food to those in need. How much of what they receive is nutritious?
“For a lot of the U.S. population that struggles with food insecurity, just having enough food is a big part of it,” said Dr. Heather Eicher-Miller, a professor of nutrition science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. “But another part of it is having the right kinds of foods to support nutrition and health in the long term.”
Food insecurity means having “limited or uncertain access to adequate and safe foods” often due to lack of money. Nutrition security is having consistent and equitable access to “healthy, safe, affordable foods essential to optimal health and well-being.” While food insecurity has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death, poor nutrition can do the same with obesity and diabetes and can affect mental health.
But urging Americans to eat healthier can be complicated, whether they’re food secure or not.
In a nation of fast food and unlimited salty and sugary treats, “a lot of Americans’ diet quality isn’t very good,” Eicher-Miller said. “It’s hard enough for all of us to eat healthfully, and then when you add limited money to that, it just makes it even harder.”
All groups, regardless of income level, might feel uncomfortable being lectured about healthier eating, said Dr. Kelseanna Hollis-Hansen, an assistant professor at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston.
“But what we generally find in our work with food pantries is that a lot of the shoppers are very interested in nutritious food without us even having to bring it up,” she said. “They like recipes and programs like food demonstrations and taste tests.”
Food banks and pantries across the country, such as the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, which serves more than 1,300 programs across 53 counties, package educational materials with food assistance, marketing manager Austin Prickett said.
“When you’re in a grocery store, they’re often trying to nudge you to purchase a certain product,” he said. “We try to create nudges for the healthier items, like produce.”
Whether it’s contributing to a comprehensive food program or helping stock a local food pantry for the holiday season, how can donors help fight hunger without neglecting nutrition? Experts have these tips:
Ask what’s needed. Eicher-Miller suggests contacting the organization conducting the drive and asking about what foods they’re short on or what they most need.
Healthy shelf-stable options. “Shelf-stable donations can still be highly nutritious,” said Kate Jenkins, marketing manager of the nonprofit Arkansas Foodbank, which distributed 41.7 million pounds of food in 2024. She suggests donating options such as:
- Canned proteins (tuna, chicken, salmon or beans)
- Whole-grain items (brown rice, quinoa or whole-wheat pasta)
- Nut butters (ideally low in sugar and sodium)
- Low-sodium soups and stews
- Canned fruits and vegetables (packed in water and low in sodium)
- Unsweetened almond or soy milk alternatives
Check the dates. Most food donations tend to have a long shelf life, unlike fresh fruits or vegetables. “Try not to donate things that are expired,” Hollis-Hansen said. “There are different rules and regulations (about how long food remains safe to eat), but most people want something that is not past the sell-by date.”
Money helps. Individual donors usually can’t provide fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs. That’s where money comes in.
Eicher-Miller said her organization hears from a lot of pantries that food donations are appreciated, but financial donations are also needed “in the moment for filling those categories of foods that we don’t have as much on hand or replenishing things that are less shelf stable.”
Donate time. While donations are “great,” Hollis-Hansen said there’s yet another level for people who want to help ensure food and nutrition security. “If someone is really passionate about this, food banks and food pantries always need more volunteers.”
