In its food donations, Central Illinois Food Bank often receives products that can’t be sold by manufacturers. A change in packaging design, a label misprint or a failed test product is more than likely to end up on the food bank’s shelves. Last week, the food bank received 25,000 unlabeled cans of corn. They receive unlabeled products when manufacturers notice a labeling error, or when there’s a change in packaging that’s announced after the canning is started. While some might marvel at the amount of product commercial food producers deem unworthy, Gilmore says it’s actually a positive outcome for food banks everywhere.

“Food banking wouldn’t exist without these products,” she says. “It’s a nice outlet when the product is still intact. It’s not going to the landfill, it’s doing something good.”

Volunteers have been helping label the cans. Silke Bell, a board member of Asbury Children’s Supper Hour, which provides meals and activities for children at Springfield’s Asbury United Methodist Church, says she volunteered to help label some of the cans as a way to give back to the community.