Would you do this?

[Bayside Bunny~]

I work as a rental property inspector. More times than not, for whatever reason, the tenant leaves behind various items intentionally.

I have had the good fortune of finding (in nearly new condition) a home decor toaster, a pricey DeLonghi deep fat fryer, a slow cooker, an ice crusher, large mixing bowls, cooking utensils, plush towels, a beautiful hand carved lawn chair with matching footstool and side table, garden tools of all sizes, a weed eater with the tags still on it and a rocker glider.

I'm very picky about what I take home and what I leave behind.

On top of these great finds, I bring home various household cleansers and cosmetics if they are hardly used. Today I found a bottle of perfumed bubble bath and a new pack of sealed disposable razors along with some recent glamour magazines.

My question is this...

How do you feel about unopened food items that are left behind?
I'm talking about canned goods and sealed box foods.
...Again, unopened!!!

My husband said any found should go to a food shelter.
He said we need to raise our standards regarding that.

What are your thoughts, and what would you do?

[bg]

When I lived in a house with other people (often grad. students from foreign countries that temporary living arrangements in the U.S.), I would often find food items that were left behind. If the item was a dry food item and opened, I would use it (provided it had been sealed properly). Unopened canned food items were always used by me and my DH. I've used oil, rice, various grains, beans, ice cream that were left behind. Then again, sometimes we were friends with these people, so its wasn't completely weird.

[kymom]

I would use the food. Every little bit helps is my motto!

[Julia Kimber]

I'd use it too, can't afford to let good food go!

Julia

[YankeeMom]

If my family had plenty, I probably would donate it to a food bank.

[geniebird]

Do the landlords you work for know you are taking this stuff? I would think anything left behind would legally "belong" to them.

I'm all for saving money. But some of the "scavaging" people talk about here really crosses the line for me. Sorry, Bayside Bunny, but I agree with your hubby on this one.

[daddys3chicks]

I think I would donate it as well.

[Mamaw]

I would probably donate it if it was in good shape, unopened and not over the expiration date since my stockpile is normally pretty full. But if I was "low" or having an unexpected crisis, I would use it

[JUSTAMOM]

Eat it!

[favesis37]

my dh is a maintance supervisor at a large apartment complex and is always bringing stuff home. the owners know it an don't mind it is bring it home or throw it away.

[tbs727]

If it was unopened and sealed then I might bring it home. I would definitely bring home canned items. Items in boxes are iffy but If the place looked clean and Ok I would probably take it home.

[crdurham]

I would donate it to a food shelter...that is a great idea!

[Early Bird]

I would use it, but not donate it.

Basically, it's too much work to stop by and make a donation w/ a couple cans of baked beans and a bag of flour.

And it would be a nuisance to store it for infrequent trips to the donation site.

Just use it. If you want to donate to the food pantry, either stop by Aldi for some flats of canned veggies -- or send a check.

But don't stress out over onesies and twosies of food items.

[Bayside Bunny~]

Originally posted by geniebird
Do the landlords you work for know you are taking this stuff? I would think anything left behind would legally "belong" to them.

Yes they do. When I asked them about the items left behind, they said whatever is left is carted away to the dump at the tenants expense out of his or her security deposit.

So see? I am actually doing us all a favor!

[Darlene]

Can't see it going to waste. If it's a clean place and the date on the package is good & it's unopened I'd go for it.