How to give back: Here's what Nashville food banks say they need most during winter months

There are many ways to give to local food banks, pantries and soup kitchens, including monetary gifts, food and in-kind donations and volunteer service.

But needs change during winter months, when fresh produce donations from farms dry up and temperatures drop.

Here's what two Nashville food banks say they need the most during winter.

The Nashville Food Project

The Nashville Food Project works with at least 30 partner organizations to provide made-from-scratch community meals to 3,000 to 5,000 people each week.

The organization also produces more than 25,000 servings of organic fruits and vegetables annually at its community gardens for its meal programs.

During the winter, The Nashville Food Project transitions to food and pantry drives to provide the bulk of the food for their community meals, many of which go to the YMCA, after-school programs for Metro Nashville Public Schools and other local nonprofits.

"We really, really depend on food drives because a lot of our donations come from farms, and during the winter they just stop producing," David Frease of The Nashville Food Project said. "I think a lot of people might not necessarily think of the pantry or canned goods as helpful or as nutritious as fresh produce, but they are invaluable when the fresh stuff stops coming in."

The Nashville Food Project's greatest food donation needs are:

  • Fresh or frozen protein, including ground beef, chicken breasts (or other cuts), breakfast sausage

  • Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables

  • Extra virgin olive oil

  • Canola oil

  • Canned diced or crushed tomatoes

  • Unseasoned canned beans of any kind

  • Unsweetened applesauce

  • Individual fruit cups

  • Almond and cashew butter

  • Honey

  • Dried fruit of any kind (especially raisins and cranberries)

  • Canned pumpkin

  • Graham crackers

  • Nuts and seeds of any kind (especially walnuts, pecans, cashews, almonds and pumpkin seeds)

  • Healthy snacks and granola bars

Donations can be taken to 5904 California Ave., Nashville, TN 37209, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Individuals can also organize their own food drives for The Nashville Food Project.

The Nashville Food Project has an Amazon wish list and also accepts monetary donations through its website at www.thenashvillefoodproject.org/give-money.

Donated funds help bolster the kitchen budget for purchasing ingredients needed to round out meals, Frease said. The organization purchases from local farms as much as possible.

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"Money is always greatly appreciated, because then we can just buy what we need week to week," Frease said.

The organization has had to reduce the number of volunteers it can accept per session due to COVID-19, and volunteer opportunities have "filled up pretty quickly for over the holiday season," Elizabeth Langgle-Martin of The Nashville Food Project said.

The Nashville Food Project can be reached at 615-460-0172 and info@thenashvillefoodproject.org.

Second Harvest

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee works with more than 460 partner agencies to provide meals for children, families and seniors throughout 46 counties in West and Middle Tennessee.

"We desperately need volunteers for our cold food sorting shifts," Director of Marketing and Communications Chanel McDaniel said, especially for sorting protein donations that are "critically needed to those facing hunger."

Volunteers are needed six days a week at Second Harvest facilities in Nashville, Smyrna and Camden. Individuals ages 12 and up can volunteer alone or in groups of up to 15 people.

More information on volunteer opportunities can be found at www.secondharvestmidtn.org/act/volunteer.

Monetary donations through www.secondharvestmidtn.org/donate-now are the most efficient way to support the organization, as every dollar donated can provide four meals, according to McDaniel.

All Kroger supermarkets in Middle Tennessee accept food donations on Second Harvest's behalf at donation barrels located near entrances and exits.

Second Harvest's most needed food items include:

  • Peanut butter

  • Canned chicken and tuna

  • Canned fruit and vegetables

  • Beans

  • Soups and stews

  • Pasta

  • Rice

For more information about donating food and hosting a food drive, visit www.secondharvestmidtn.org.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee can be reached at 615-329-3491.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How to give back: Nashville food pantries seek donations, volunteers