Much of the product that arrives simply needs to be cleaned of surface dirt and dust. One leaking container will soil the rest, so all will be washed before being placed for distribution. The Foodbank receives an average of 130,000 pounds of salvage each month. The loads arrive packed in boxes and stacked on pallets. Several of the pallets will have non-food items like toothpaste, soap, and paper products.
Every penny saved on non-food items means more money for a family's food budget.
In 1999, 1.2 million pounds of food was sorted with 705,000 pounds distributed. Volunteer training for the salvage area starts with reading a short training manual followed by hands-on sorting at the table. Along with inspection for quality, volunteers sort the product into 12 food categories and 11 non-food categories. EIF is fortunate to have the help of volunteers in the salvage area daily. A large source of volunteers for the salvage area currently comes to us through the Department of Probation and Parole, and the Court Diversion Division.