OCTOBER: Food Drive for Eastern Shore Families

The Northampton Virginia Cooperative Extension is hosting an October food drive to benefit local families of the Eastern Shore. Donations may be dropped off at Extension Office located at the Old Middle School in Machipongo.

As part of its mission, Northampton VCE is dedicated to maximizing positive health conditions in our community. Please look for healthier items such as those lower in sodium, sugar, and trans-fat, as well as items high in protein and fiber.

We are happy to do our part to help the Food Pantries of the Eastern Shore keep their shelves stocked.

Healthier versions of the most needed items include:

•Beans, Canned or Dry: kidney, navy, pinto

•Fish, Canned: salmon, tuna (in water)

•Fruits, Canned (in juice or light syrup)

•Meals, Boxed: Complete dinners, Helper & Pasta meals (whole grain, low fat, low sodium)

•Meats, Canned: chicken, beef stew, chili (low sodium)

•Oil, Bottled: Olive, Canola, Vegetable

•Pasta, Canned or Dry: ravioli, macaroni, noodles, spaghetti (whole grain, low sodium)

•Peanut or other nut butters (low sugar)

•Rice: instant and dinners (brown or wild rice, low sodium)

•Potatoes, Instant (low sodium)

•Soup: canned and boxed (higher fiber, low sodium)

•Snack Items: dried fruit, granola bars, whole grain crackers, can/ bag nuts, trail mix (low sugar, low fat, low sodium)

•Tomato Products: canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste (low sodium, low sugar)

For more information on VCE, visit the website at www.ext.vt.edu.