Why specific, small asks make the largest impact: a lesson from my local food bank

This month I got to tour a local food bank branch near our home in Charleston, SC and saw something I’d never seen before. It was so smart and really made me think about how easy it would be to replicate nationwide, and the ramifications for others doing this in their local food banks would be incredible!

Here’s what they do well: the food bank partners with local churches and asks each church to provide ONE. THING. So each item on the shelf when people are shopping is labeled, “Saltines provided by X Church.”

 

There are certain foods that are highly requested over and over again by recipients of the food bank — condiments, canned pork and beans, boxes of saltines, etc.

So they ask a church to be in charge of keeping saltines “in stock” on their shelves. So a church would put a large box in the back of their building and ask their members to buy saltines each time they go to the store, and drop them off on Sunday mornings. Then the church coordinates getting the saltines to the food pantry on a regular cadence.

I talked with a really sweet volunteer whose church was in charge of condiments. She proudly told me that when she does her weekly shop, she just always picks up an extra ketchup, extra mayo, and extra mustard. THAT’S IT. Three condiments and she knows where they’re going, that they’re needed, and that she’s making a tangible difference to someone.

There’s something powerful about not making a huge ask but rather a specific one — they’re not asking for you to bring carfuls of food and every shelf-stable item you can find in the store.

Instead, it’s simple: Please help us by providing items that we know our recipients want, in a specific, attainable way. What a great ongoing way to help a community flourish — not just during peak holiday times, but all year round.

 

I was so inspired by my time with the food pantry volunteers and it really motivated me to start thinking SMALL. And how small can really make a big impact.

 

Also, please know: if you’re in a hard spot, your local food bank wants to help you. They are the most loving people who want to serve you and your family. Hunger knows no face. Hunger hits people for a million different reasons. If you want to find a local food bank (be it to volunteer or to help you in a time of need), it’s so easy! Click this link and put in your zip code.