British ColumbiaCBC B.C.’s Make the Season Kind festivities in support of B.C. food banks takes place on Dec. 5.CBC B.C.’s Make the Season Kind festivities in support of B.C. food banks takes place on Dec. 5CBC News · Posted: Nov 27, 2025 2:11 PM EST | Last Updated: 4 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.People are often thinking about donating to food banks around the holidays — but what are the best items to donate? (Nancy Russell/CBC)Every holiday season, food banks across B.C. ramp up efforts to encourage donations to ensure British Columbians can enjoy this time of year without worrying about putting food on the table. Whether it’s at the grocery store checkout, an event at your child’s school or a workplace fundraiser, you may be asked to bring a donation for a local food bank. But what are the best items?Protein-rich foods like canned meats, beans and peanut butter are always a need, according to Food Banks B.C. manager of member services Nick Johnson. Food Banks B.C.’s website shows the top 10 most requested donations include those listed above, as well as canned fruit and vegetables, pasta and pasta sauce, rice, oats and barley, soups and stews, snacks and toiletries.CBC News asked Johnson for tips on supporting food banks now and throughout the year. Perishable itemsWhile the call is often for non-perishable food items — things like canned goods and foods that will last in a pantry longer-term — Johnson said food banks are certainly always looking for fresh, perishable food as well.WATCH | Food banks expect increased demand amid trade war:B.C. food banks brace for surge in demand amid ongoing trade warWith looming U.S. tariffs expected to drive up the cost of food at the grocery store, food banks across the province are preparing for a surge in demand. At one location though, the trade war has caused an unexpected silver lining — a jump in American products being donated as Canadians avoid buying them. Janella Hamilton has more. “You don’t want to put a carton of 12 eggs in a donation bin with a bunch of other non-perishable items,” he said. “But if you’re going to a food bank … almost every food bank in the network across the province has refrigeration or freezer capacity so they can take meat donations, they can take eggs, they can take dairy, they can take fruits, vegetables.”Items for babiesWhile Johnson can’t speak to every food bank’s individual needs, he said baby food and formula are always high on the list. Food banks vary on whether they regularly stock these items, so when donations come in, they’re appreciated, he added. “A lot of food banks do look for baby formula and things like that.”Dietary needsJohnson said food banks in general are trying to be more accessible for as many people as possible, and that means stocking items that meet the needs of those with dietary restrictions.Think folks who have celiac disease and can’t have gluten, or those who don’t eat certain foods for religious reasons. Signs advertising baby food are pictured at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank in Burnaby in May 2022. (Ben Nelms/CBC)“We don’t always have the items that they’re looking for,” Johnson said. “Food banks serve the whole gamut. No one is exempt from having to necessarily visit a food bank. It’s meeting everyone’s needs in the community.”He said in particular, it’s nice to have gluten-free items, things that are low in sodium and processed sugar and foods that are halal and kosher.Best-before dateAlthough items past their best-before date can be given out, Johnson said it’s preferable if they’re not. “Don’t be cleaning out grandma’s pantry,” he said. WATCH | Nanaimo food bank still waiting for funding:Nanaimo food bank still waiting for $5M in federal funding promised last yearLoaves and Fishes Community Food Bank in Nanaimo, B.C., says it was promised federal funding last December but has yet to see the money. As Claire Palmer reports, the food bank aims to open its new warehouse by 2026 and hopes the $5-million funding package comes through before then. If items are too old, they have to be thrown out, which increases the burden on food bank staff and volunteers. According to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, things like canned soups, fish and beans, as well as dry pasta can still be fresh for up to three years after the best-before date, if stored properly. What to avoidFood banks might take donations that contain alcohol, Johnson said, but they won’t give them out. Instead, they’ll have to throw them away. Products that have been opened will also be thrown away due to possible contamination, Johnson said. Best bet? Donate cashCash donations can be made directly to food banks, generally online or in person. On Dec. 5, CBC B.C.’s annual Make the Season Kind campaign, in support of local food banks, kicks off. Donations to local food banks can be made through this fundraiser, at cbc.ca/kindbc, where you’ll be able to donate directly to a number of food banks in the province.And if you’re still unsure about what to donate, call up your local food bank to ask what’s needed, Johnson suggests. “Cash is king,” Johnson said. “More food banks than ever are having to expand their food purchasing budgets. And when they do buy, they usually buy in bulk.”
Tips for donating to B.C. food banks this holiday season
