Yesterday, my daughter and I walked a 10k (6.2 miles) as part of a fundraiser for hunger. In addition to collecting monetary donations for this good cause, we were also asked to bring a non-perishable food as part of our entrance fee. That food would be donated to a local food bank. This got me thinking about a story I’d heard on NPR recently.

In this day and age when many Americans are feeling the economic pinch, food banks are suffering even more. Not only are more “regular” people turning to food banks and food pantries to supplement their grocery shopping, but the folks that would normally donate to these good causes just aren’t giving as much these days. This really is a double whammy for organizations whose sole purpose is to help feed those that are hurting financially and hungry.

In the spirit of frugal shopping, here’s what I’d like to suggest that you do the next time that you find something non-perishable on sale at the supermarket: stock up on it not only for your family but for families that could really use your help as well.

You know how I wrote a few days ago about how, in being a frugal shopper, I like to stock up on cereal when it’s on sale and I have a coupon? Well, with food banks top of my mind now, I’ll still stock up on Cheerios for my family but I’ll probably buy a few boxes that I can donate to a food pantry, too. Beans on sale? Buy a few cans for your pantry and a food pantry, too. Got a coupon on two-for-one boxes of rice? Keep one box for yourself and donate the other to a food bank. See where I’m going with this?

Let’s move ahead a bit and think towards the holidays: I’m sure we’re all considering our budgets and wondering: how am I going to get all of my holiday shopping done? Also, with green on my mind, I’d like to make holiday gift selections that don’t create a lot of waste.

Well, in addition to food pantries hurting these days, charitable organizations and other non profits are worried about how donations will start falling like the Dow–especially as we go into the holidays. Historically, when America is in a recession, charitable donations dry up.

That’s why I’m going to make this additional suggestion for this year: if you’re stumped about what to give someone for a gift, forgo the stuff. Instead, figure out what good cause that special person supports and make a donation in his or her name.

As far as the etiquette of making a donation in a person’s name, you never have to specify how much you spent. Just write in a card that you made the donation, that you chose this organization because you know it is important to that person, and that you felt that supporting this cause on this person’s behalf was the best present you could give to him or her.

I’ll bet that if you decide to make charitable donations on behalf of some of the people on your gift list, you’ll spend less overall. In addition, you’ll have given a personal gift, and you’ll have supported a good cause which might otherwise have seen its financial support decrease during these turbulent economic times.

Oh and one more thing: I’m pretty sure that charitable donations are tax deductible. However, I’m not an accountant. Check with yours to see about this. If it turns out that you can deduct part of what you gave as a holiday gift, well that’s a win-win for all involved.