Nearly all "food bank" programs rescue and redistribute dry-storage food on a daily basis, because it is cheap and easy to handle. Nutritional value and sheer productivity would increase substantially, however, if the huge supplies of available fresh food could be utilized as well. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts (incorporated 1982) annually "rescues" more than 3 million lbs. of surplus food from the food industry, and redistributes it to over 400 local agencies -- food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.

It has also initiated programs like Youth Against Hunger, designed to help students understand hunger through hands-on community service, and the Food Bank Farm, a 60-acre, community-supported farm that provides 150,000 pounds of organic produce to its programs each year.

For every $1 donated to the Food Bank, $9 of wholesome food is provided to someone in need. If you're looking for a significant return on your investment, this is it.