A simple way to give back at the grocery store

One of my goals for 2010 is to do more to give back for all of the blessings I've been given. But with my crazy schedule it can be hard to find the time. So I've been thinking of ways to give back without too much extra effort.

I came up with an idea that I used tonight. When I make a big grocery run (typically once a month) I include one paper bag in the cart along with my reusable bags. As I'm shopping I fill that paper bag with staple, non-perishable foods like peanut butter, jelly, soup, cereal, and canned veggies. It gets scanned into my regular order (I use the handy self-scanner as I shop) and on my way out the door I drop the paper bag into the box for our local food pantry.

The whole thing adds no more than 5 minutes to my shopping trip, but will help many people over the course of the year. It adds more to my grocery bill, but I figure that I'm trading off time for money. There are so many people struggling in this difficult economy. It's the least I can do.

So the next time you're at the store consider purchasing just a few items for those without enough to eat in this country. Maybe take those coupons for stuff you might not normally use and apply them to food for a pantry. It's an easy way to turn a sometimes tedious errand into an act of kindness.