I have worked at a local food bank for two years now. It is shocking the food that people deem okay for clients, but not okay for them.

I had a woman ask if she could donate a large bag of rice because she had found weevils in it and didn't want to keep it. I feel like she could hear my jaw drop over the phone. She responded, "Well if you boil the rice the bugs will just cook off." I wanted to say, "You eat it then." But, I just declined her 'generous' offer.

I have found food so old and rotted it was decaying the container, infecting all the other decent products around it. I have a lot of stories like this, unfortunately. The needs of the people ultimately receiving the food should be considered when donating. Thank you for writing this article! It really hit home. Great work, Maria!