In the days following Halloween, as a food-bank volunteer, I witnessed an almost continual stream of individuals leaving off bags of unwanted trick-or-treat candy.
We only had room for two milk crates of candy, therefore the most of the donations were thrown away.
Extra candy was periodically placed on tables during food distribution days where I worked. We’d allow folks to take as much as they wanted, but by the end of the day, most of it was still in the bowls. We’d then place it on a table in the volunteer area. Like the candy that emerges in company break rooms after Halloween, the majority of it was discarded at the end of the week.
Seeing the trash was always distressing for me. The resources spent on candies that no one desired could have been better spent on wholesome items that could fill someone’s stomach.
I was also told not to bring candy in food boxes for our customers during my food-bank orientation. We could give out baking chocolate if someone asked for it, but food banks are in the business of providing nutrition.
Candy has no nutritional value, and our clients frequently refused it.
Some food banks have even banned donations of confectionery and beverages. The policies recognize that persons who are food insecure tend to eat lower-quality diets. They are also intended to educate the public on the importance of sharing nutrient-dense foods.
People that are food insecure are accustomed to receiving high-calorie, low-nutrition foods. However, our customers appreciated receiving fresh veggies and fruit that were neither dark or floppy. Clients expected sweets to be at least somewhat full when they ate them. Fruit pies disappeared quickly, but sugary birthday cakes languished on a shelf, waiting to be composted.
Of course, each food bank is a little different. However, I’m sure most people would prefer to get healthful goods from their wish lists or cash instead of sugar.
Each time I heaved a bin of candy into the trash at the food bank, I had time to reconsider my own Halloween handouts
I’m not ready to start handing out salad kits or toothbrushes to trick-or-treaters, but this year I’m giving out more substantive lunchbox snacks instead of sweets.
I’m not saying that boxed cookies and chips are healthy. I realize they’re still treats, but they’re more nutritious and include more fiber and vitamins than Skittles or Starburst.
In addition, children can still enjoy them. Last year, as I watched my nieces and nephew go through their Halloween hauls, I noticed that they gravitated toward the snack-size packages of chips first.
If all else fails, these treats are something I don’t mind keeping in my own pantry. And I know that if they do end up at the food bank, I won’t have to throw them out.