A spicy food drive is underway in Boston. The Boston Public Library and the Greater Boston Food Bank have joined forces to launch the Spice Bank Collective.
They're accepting donations of unopened spices and dried herbs at more than 20 BPL branches. The donations will then go to more than 100 small food pantries around the city.
Stephanie Chase, nutrition literacy director at the BPL, came up with the idea and said it had been dancing around in her head for years.
"Oftentimes, I would see a call out to the public for donations to food banks and I noticed that spices were missing from the list,” she said. “I always thought, gosh, that would be just a great way for people to really cook in the way that they're used to cooking, a way that feels culturally relevant for them."
Adrienne Worthington, director of nutrition programs at the Greater Boston Food Bank, said pure spices and dried herbs are preferred for the drive, because spice mixes sometimes include sodium or sugar.
"As a dietitian, one of the things that we recommend folks do if they're trying to reduce their sodium intake or saturated fat intake is to boost up the flavor of their food with spices, but spices also can get pretty expensive, depending on where you live,” she said.
In addition to healthy and creative cooking, BPL organizers hope the drive can increase awareness around the many cultural identities in Massachusetts, and help families continue culinary traditions.
Chase said a pilot program was so successful that they've extended the Spice Bank Collective through 2022. Unopened spices and dried herbs can be dropped off at the circulation desk at participating Boston Public Library branches. The complete list is on the BPL website.
The Newsfeed Café at the Central Library in Copley Square will match any donations brought to the café.
