We run a small food pantry at our church.
We know that several of the people that come to the weekly music and meal take things. Most of the people are elderly veterans, disabled, or even homeless.
The most popular items are convenience foods that require little to no cooking, in easy open packages such as pop-top cans. They also like 'breakfast bars' and cold cereal.
The pantry isn't intended to supply a family a week's worth of groceries, but instead, just a few items to 'get them through the weekend'.