I've spent the last couple of afternoons working at The Food Bank of the Rockies in what is known as the Reclamation Area. This is the main area that donated food gets processed and sorted. I have learned a lot these past few days and wanted to pass it on in hopes that what I have seen helps you as you prepare to donate food to food bank. On the 1st day we processed foods that were donated from area stores that had been pulled from their shelves for one reason or another. This food had been stored for some time and it all needed to be wiped down with bleach and sorted into 40 lb boxes by its type. I was shocked when I got there and was handed an apron and gloves to protect myself from the bleach. I couldn't fathom why on earth we were wiping food with a chemical. Then I opened my first box. The bottom was full of rodent poop. OK, I can see why now. Cans, bags & boxes were all given a bleach wipe before heading to the sorting area. Lesson 1: Don't Donate Dented Cans OR Overly Expired Food I literally, personally had to throw away over 3 huge trash cans, each weighing more than 350 lbs, of dented and expired cans. What broke my heart more was all of the expired baby food. ...

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