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Money / Living on a Budget

Food Pantry Hauls Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All — and These Photos Prove It

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A table at the food pantry is filled with blocks of Swiss cheese, tubs of hummus, a watermelon, ears of corn, oranges, lettuce, packs of string cheese, colorful candy ropes, and bags of bread.
Mercybby/Reddit

Food pantries are a vital resource for individuals and families who find themselves unable to buy enough groceries each month. They provide those in need with canned goods, powdered milk, fresh produce, and, yes, plenty of ramen packets, but no two pantry hauls are alike. Here’s a quick snapshot into what food pantry users come away with after a visit – though the amount and quality of groceries can also vary from visit to visit.

Are you in need of food assistance? Find your closest food pantry, food bank, or meal program at feedingamerica.org. Everyone deserves three square meals a day, no matter your circumstance.

All the Food Groups Are Here

A variety of groceries on a kitchen counter, including eggs, bread, bagels, orange juice, cheese, vegetables, instant noodles, chips, milk, canned goods, cream cheese, and seasoning packets.
Fluffy-Car-3872/Reddit

“We are allowed to go once a month and this is for 5 people.” – u/Fluffy-Car-3872

That’s Some Solid Produce

A cardboard box filled with apples, lemons, oranges, avocados, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, onions, yellow bell pepper, jalapeño, chayote, a bag of carrots, two bags of Brussels sprouts, and garlic.
RegallyKegally/Reddit

“Enjoy that yummy healthy haul!” – u/Dramatic_Parsley8828

I See You, Top Ramen

A variety of groceries on a table, including bread, hamburger buns, ramen noodles, canned food, strawberries, bananas, oranges, celery, romaine lettuce, cilantro, pears, and sliced cheese.
EveryWatch1122/Reddit

“The mangoes, oranges, and peaches will make an amazing salad! I love it when they give us fresh produce.” – u/Dizzy_Emotion7381

Burger Night Is in the Future

Groceries on a marble counter: three cartons of orange juice, three boxes of spaghetti, four cans of tomato paste, ground turkey, bacon, frozen beef patties, chicken, yellow squash, a red onion, and a bag of cabbage.
mybackhurty/Reddit

“OJ was so expensive the past year, I haven’t bought any! This is a total treat.” – u/RunAcceptableMTN

‘I’m So Grateful to My City’s Food Pantry’

A kitchen counter with various vegetables and a turkey. Visible items include red bell peppers, sweet potatoes, eggplants, zucchinis, a cabbage, cucumbers, limes, a bagged turkey, paper towels, and a kettle on the stove.
Apart-Musician4053/Reddit

“They had turkeys and all these fresh vegetables, I haven’t eaten fresh vegetables for so long (except potatoes) [because] I need to buy filling grocery staples.” – u/Apart-Musician4053

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$20 Worth of Free Pantry Items

An assortment of pantry staples on a counter, including boxes of mashed potatoes, corn muffin mix, pasta, canned peas, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning, and packaged noodles.
Separate-Language662/Reddit

“Put a date on them with a marker. Then when you bring new stuff home, you will know what to use first.” – u/Rhorae

Breakfast Is Taken Care of

A wooden table covered with various groceries, including cereal boxes, fresh vegetables, canned goods, packaged meats, applesauce, cream cheese, snack bars, and frozen foods.
thisismydumbbrain/Reddit

“I am so thankful for this food and I hope all of us will someday not need these services any more.” – u/thisismydumbbrain

‘First Time at Food Bank’

A kitchen counter displays an air fryer, utensils, bread, quick oats, apples, canned chili, tomato sauce, vanilla yogurt, and two packages of uncooked pork chops.
chevroletchaser/Reddit

“After months of contemplating, I finally bit the bullet and decided to sign up for and go to my local food bank. I got there a bit late so a lot of the stuff I was really hoping for (milk and ground beef, mostly) were gone. But I still got a lot of good things to help me out the next couple weeks … Don’t feel bad or embarrassed for taking advantage of these things if you need them.” – u/chevroletchaser

Haul From a University Food Pantry

Assorted pantry food items including pasta, rice, canned goods, spices, instant noodles, oil, boxed meals, oatmeal packets, and seasoning are arranged on a kitchen counter. A stuffed animal is partially visible in the corner.
deleted/Reddit

“I love that they gave different types of seasonings! Out of all my time getting food from pantries/banks, I’ve never gotten seasoning. That’s really cool.” – u/bellabarbiex

Look at Those Prepared Meals!

A round marble table covered with various groceries, including fresh vegetables, blueberries, canned food, baked chicken, seasoned wings, Lay’s chips, a drink can, and packaged snacks.
HonnyBrown/Reddit

“Grocery store fried chicken is actually pretty great. I dumpster dived a rotisserie chicken and it might have been the best chicken I ever had.” – u/ConcentricGroove

Meet the Writer


Erin Kuschner

Erin has spent the past decade as a writer and editor in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Boston, where she now resides. She loves visiting local thrift stores to add to her growing glassware collection and thinks hiking in the (free!) great outdoors trumps any gym membership. Prior to joining Cheapism, Erin was a reporter and editor at Boston.com, Time Out Austin, and Time Out Los Angeles, and has written for the Los Angeles Times, Eater Austin, The Local Palate, and other publications. She will never say no to tacos and a great gin cocktail. You can reach her at [email protected].

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