Yesterday was the last day of "National Food bank Week" (October 19-25) but you can still do your part.  Use this as an opportunity to organize your pantry and do a good deed. 

A disorganized pantry or food cabinet can be a very frustrating space because you have to access it several times a day in order to eat.  It can be a maddening experience when you're trying to prepare a meal or a snack and can't find what you're looking for.  In addition to frustration and wasted time, a disorganized pantry or cabinet often costs you money.  How many times have you bought food and ingredients that you didn't know you already had?  How many times have you thrown out moldy bread, stale chips, or expired items because they got lost in a jumbled mess?  Follow these 10 steps to get your food in order.

1. Remove all of the food from the pantry or cabinet.  Yes, all of it.
2. Sort each item into categories similar to what you would see in a grocery store (e.g. canned goods together, baking supplies together, grains together, etc.)
3. Get rid of anything that is expired, moldy, or stale. Be sure check canned goods for bulging or rust--toss them if you notice either.  Also check grains for infestation-bugs love grains.
4. Make a list of things that you need to replace as you go along.
5. Pass it on if you made a mistake and purchased some food you know you won't eat. Donate food that is unopened and still edible to your local food pantry, shelter, or church. If you're really feeling charitable, you can organize a food drive and encourage others to organize their pantries.
6. Find a specific home for each category of food you have identified.
7. Open foods and things you use most often should be towards the front and easily accessible.  Unopened packages and less frequently used items can go towards the back or higher up on the shelf.
8. Accessorize as needed.  If necessary, purchase a lazy susan, expandable shelf extenders, and/or pull-out baskets to make your food more accessible.
9. Label the locations.  Labels eliminate any guess work when it comes to retrieving or putting away an item.
10. Drop the food off at your designated donation site.

Sites of interest:
www.feedingamerica.org
www.midohiofoodbank.org