The Master’s Swim Team that I work out with has been having a big event this month, encouraging swimmers to swim 50,000 yards, or 100,000 yards, or whatever gigantic number of yards they desire. The idea is to reinvigorate your workout and challenge yourself.
Because of a cold and a little travel, I am going to make it to about 10,000 yards, or 250 laps. Not too bad, overall. But nothing compared to Mitchell, who is on track to complete 250,000 yards!
In addition to swimming, the team is also encouraged to bring in a can of food for every 200o yards, as a donation to a local food bank. I joke that my goal is 5 cans of food.
Leaving practice the other day, I looked over at the collection barrel for the food bank. It was great to see so much food, cans and packages, piled high. Even overflowing.
As I walked away, I had an internal discussion with myself about the kind of food that is donated during these drives. I saw cans of beans and stew, rice, and the ever-popular, ramen noodles.
I started to think that donating a package of ramen noodles ($.20 a piece, if you buy the big box from CostCo) can be a very inexpensive way to donate, with a seemingly large bang-for-the-buck. Cans of stew and soup make an easy meal, and canned beans are high in protein.
However, this is not the food we eat at home.
Lately, I have been avoiding buying beans in a can, since it is easy to cook them up in a pressure cooker and freeze some for later use. I also have concerns about the amount of sodium in canned goods, and still don’t completely understand the impact of BPA linings of food cans. Soup I make from scratch, generally from vegetables from our CSA, and the only time we eat ramen noodles is at swim meets in the summer!
And then, my struggle comes down to money. If I am going to give $10 to this food drive, am I going to seek out Massa Organics Rice ($4 for a 2 pounds bag) and buy two bags, or stick with grown-who-knows-where rice from the grocery store, and buy way more than 2 bags? If I buy beans, I can buy 10 for $10, if I stick with a generic brand, but if I want to buy organic, Eden Foods brand beans in BPA-free cans for $2.50 a pop from Whole Foods, which means only 4 cans for the food drive.
The other argument I have with myself is just because I eat this way, doesn’t mean everyone else does. Where is it my place to dictate my food preferences through donations. Why shouldn’t I just buy and donate the least expensive food items, with the greatest nutritional value. Who cares if it is local, organic or sustainable?
I guess I do.
So, my workaround for this great dilemma is to donate cash directly to the food bank. That way, everyone is happy. I can give the amount I feel comfortable with, and the food bank can purchase the items they really need, based on their clients requests. Win-win.
Have you had similar internal discussions? What have you decided to do?
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February 24th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
It’s often difficult to donate without imposing your own values. What will help the greatest number of people? Assuming you would never donate something that would be harmful (junk food, for example), what is more useful — pasta that is not organic, or pasta that is? The question for me comes down to what is the best I can do with the resources I have, and I’d always come down on the side of canned beans at 10 for $10, because those beans will help more people — and they are not bad for you.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
yes, it often comes down to bang-for-buck. 10 cans of beans can certainly help more people than 4 cans will. I think everyone deserves to have access to healthy food, and I would love to see everyone having access to local, organic and sustainably grown food. But I realize that is not any easy wish to fulfill.
BTW, when I participate in Drop In and Decorate, I have a similar discussion with myself. Should I use organic cream cheese, or just the least expensive option from CostCo? How about organic butter? I like to give myself these kind of things to ponder!
February 24th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
I knew we were kindred spirits – I’m a swimmer too. I’ll be reinvigorating my workout and making a donation. Also giving time to my own food bank next week. Kindred spirits indeed!
February 24th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
I like swimming in the winter, usually much less crowded in the pool. Do you also swim master’s? If I don’t, I am not disciplined enough to get in the pool and workout!
February 26th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Appreciate your thoughts and struggles here. We’ve done the same ourselves. With respect to our rice, another option is to let me know when you are involved with something like this, and we’d be happy to donate a case of rice. Good luck with your swimming!
February 26th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Greg, thank you for your comments. Yet another reason to stick with local farmers. Appreciate your generosity, and will definitely let you know if another opportunity presents itself.
Swimming is done, I made it to 11,250
March 4th, 2010 at 2:00 am
Totally agree that it’s a tough call. Have to share the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in a food donation bin… several years ago, I was leaving the grocery store in December, and the 2nd Harvest food bin was full to overflowing. On top, placed right on the top in full view was an economy size bottle of AstroGlide. Totally made me laugh!
March 28th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
What a great post! I tend to just give money to food pantries, but sometimes there will be collection drives at the grocery and I’ll contribute something.
I think I’ll stick to contributing only something I would feed my child (so that excludes Ramen and other low nutrition-items).