STARKVILLE, Miss. -- As the holidays approach, consider three ways to share the joys of the season by supporting local food pantries.

Keltra Chandler, program manager for the Mississippi State University Extension Service program AIM for CHangE, said the state’s food pantries have seen increased traffic since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With the rising price of groceries and ongoing employment challenges, many Mississippians rely on local food pantries to feed their families,” Chandler said. “As the holidays approach and fresh fruits and vegetables become less available, food pantries need donations more than ever.”

AIM for CHangE is short for “Advancing, Inspiring, Motivating for Community Health through Extension.” For the past six years, working with food pantry operators has been a cornerstone of their work in counties with high rates of obesity.

Chandler offered these three suggestions for supporting local food pantries: give money, food or time.

Give money. Monetary donations help provide more meals than donations of food items because food pantries can purchase groceries in bulk at a reduced cost through the Mississippi Food Network.

“For every $10 donated, the Mississippi Food Network can provide 60 meals,” Chandler said.

“This means that donating money goes a lot farther than buying groceries at the store for retail prices and then taking it to the food pantry. This is also a tax-deductible donation when the food pantry is a non-profit organization, so it’s a win-win.”

Give food. Donations of food are always appreciated.

“Food manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers can donate their products to food banks,” Chandler said. “Donations from individuals, organizations and teams are always welcome too.”

Canned food drives have become increasingly popular in lieu of gifts at birthday parties and holiday gift exchanges and entrance fees to community events. That said, most food pantries have lists of what they need and cannot use, so be aware before donating.

Tomyah Smith, graduate assistant with AIM for CHangE, said helpful items to donate include shelf-stable milk, peanut butter, pop-top canned goods, brown rice, whole-grain cereals, unsweetened apple sauce and no-salt-added canned vegetables.

“Expired food items, perishable foods, partially used or open foods and items in glass jars are typically not helpful,” Smith said. “Also avoid large bulk items, like big bags of rice or flour that need to be divided into smaller portions for families.”

Give time. Consider a gift of time instead of money or food.

“If your own budget is tight, see if your local food pantry can use help organizing donations, promoting their work on social media, coordinating volunteers or cleaning and stocking the food pantry itself,” Smith said. “Not all donations have to be financial.”

Learn more about the AIM for CHangE program at www.msuext.ms/aim.