Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

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Donating canned goods to food pantries is like donating needles and syringes to a cancer research organization (self.showerthoughts)

submitted 3 months ago by Emerald to c/showerthoughts

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[–] tjsauce 24 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Canned goods are non-perishable. Used needles carry contaminate. One is useful, the other isn't.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Umm... is this post edited or something. I'm seeing

Donating canned goods to food pantries is like donating needles and syringes to a cancer research organization

I don't see the word "used" in it. So, it sounds like he's saying donating medical supplies to an organization that does medical research?

To which I'd say yes both seem helpful to an organization that helps people in need.

[–] Emerald 3 points 3 months ago

To which I’d say yes both seem helpful to an organization that helps people in need.

But cash is much more universal and allows the cancer research organization to get exactly what they need rather then whatever needles people feel like donating. It's the same thing with food pantries. You can donate 10 cans of vegetable soup, but if the food bank doesn't need that at the time, you've just wasted your money on vegetable soup when you could have just donated cash.

[–] Zahille7 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I mean I guess, but if it's an organization conducting medical research, I'd assume they already have all the syringes they'd need?

It would probably mean a little more like you're thinking if OP said "donate syringes to clinics and ERs" or something.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

I mean I guess a food bank would have food already as well... They are both one time use consumable supplies so, whether they have them or not, they are going to have to resupply at some point.