Is the likely more limited food supply at your home inspiring more culinary creativity during the COVID-19 pandemic? Many people are struggling with how to stretch what is in their own pantries as they may face diminshing options for nutritional support. 

In fact, one in seven Americans — 46 million people — rely on local food banks and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families, according to a recent study. The COVID-19 pandemic has created particular urgency to meet nutritional needs since local communities may have more difficulty in helping to feed their neighbors. 
 
Please consider donating to your local food bank to help support people near you. For example, I have been working with my family to provide our local food pantry with weekly donations of bags of groceries the food bank requested to help fulfill local needs. We also have been providing brown bag meals for a local community center serving highly vulnerable residents. Your community may offer something similar, or you can start your own effort by collecting donations in a box outside of your house/apartment, bringing shelf stable goods to your local food pantry, or maybe checking out local food bank websites for other ideas to help. There are also a lot of national groups that may need aid as we look for ways to help others in this time of such urgent need.

Let us help each other get through these stressful, uncertain times as best we can!

While many of us have been social distancing to minimize the chance of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic, this does not mean that we are completely safe from contracting coronavirus. Even if you choose grocery pick-up or delivery instead of physically shopping at the stores, there is still risk of getting coronavirus from others handling the groceries before they get to you. Sanitizing your groceries is essential to protect your safety.

This video that was recently shared with me provides an excellent, thorough overview of how to safely handle groceries during this outbreak. It contains food safety tips, which can be very helpful in continuing to minimize your chances of getting coronavirus. I highly suggest that you take a moment to check it out as a great way to stay safe.
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