CBS 58 Drive Thru Food Drive: What to donate to make the most impact

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) --- Ahead of the annual CBS 58 Drive Thru Food Drive in partnership with Hunger Task Force and the Brewers Community Foundation, we are breaking down the best items to donate to make the most impact.

On Friday, we will be collecting frozen turkeys and healthy food items. We're looking for low-sodium vegetables, low-sugar cereal, and lean canned tuna or chicken. Canned fruit should be in its own juice.

"If you're going to get a boxed meal like mac and cheese, we would say no, because it takes butter and milk to make that and the more ingredients there are in a box, the less likely it is to be a healthy item," said Sherrie Tussler, Hunger Task Force CEO.

Tussler says cereal goes a long way. "Breakfast cereal does not get donated in large enough amounts. We actually will buy full truckloads of breakfast cereal in order to gift it into the community," she said. Peanut butter and other nut butters are also appreciated donations, as well as healthy granola bars, low in sugar.

Rice and pasta are also great options and during the holidays, special occasion items like canned pumpkin can really make a family's day. "People love to make a pie. It's a seasonal favorite and if you don't have pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, you may feel a little left out, so it's okay to donate pumpkin at this time of year," said Tussler.

Frozen turkey donations are also needed right now, and everything you give will benefit a family in need.

"Think about a child. Think about doing something that's dignified. Be compassionate. Help people in a way that you would want to be helped," said Tussler.

Be thoughtful with your donations and as a rule of thumb, don't donate anything you wouldn't feed your own family. Always make sure donations are not expired, and again, healthy.

Everyone who donates gets a fun swag bag filled with items from our community partners. And anyone who donates three or more frozen turkeys gets a special Milwaukee Brewers bobblehead.

It's a fun way to help make Thanksgiving special for families in our area so, load up the car and head out to AmFam Field for the Drive Thru Food Drive Friday, Nov. 17 from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.