Food is critically needed! But here's the dilemma:
1. The donations are transported in freezing conditions
Items that can freeze and burst during transit can ruin other items being
shipped. The trip is approximately 1,100 miles. We have had no
reported problems with the the foods listed at the end of this page.
Baby formula and other temperature-sensitive items should not be
donated unless you can arrange to safely ship them yourself. Please
contact us if you're able to ship those useful items!
2. Diabetes is VERY common on the reservation
Poor diet is a major contributing factor. Anyone who has been financially
strapped can tell you that buying nutritious food quickly loses priority over
simply being able to feed everyone in your family. Compare one loaf of healthy
all-grain bread to the number of loaves of white bread you can get for the same price.
With 5-10 hungry people to feed and little money, you don't have the luxury of a choice.So here's the point ...
Try to donate healthy items if you have the means to do so. But consider this:
If someone had nothing to eat, would you tell them, "I'm sorry, but I can't
give you this food because it's not nutritious enough," and let them starve?
If you're like a lot people (including us!), you're struggling financially, but you
want to help. With that said ...Let's say you find a great price for a case of beef stew, for example,
it might feed several families who would go without ANY food otherwise.Here are some suggestions:
(If low sodium and low sugar items are available – choose them)
- Canned vegetables, fruit, and meat
- Canned broth, powdered soup base, and bouillon
- Ensure® Powder (not liquid)
- Dried pasta (including yolk-free, wheat, and Ramen noodles)
- Canned soup or dried soup mixes
- Corn meal, flour, rice, oats and other grains
- "Add water only" mixes (such as Bisquik® Complete)
- Ground coffee, tea bags, sugar-free hot cocoa
- Dried legumes (such as beans, peas, and lentils)
- Nuts, dried fruit and berries
- 100% fruit preserves and jelly