Food Drives

 
 

Host a Food Drive

Thank you for your interest in hosting a food drive! It is a wonderful way to get people of all ages involved and educated about food insecurity in our community. A successful food drive not only provides food but it also spreads awareness of the need to fight hunger in our communities. It is a great activity for businesses, schools, clubs, places of worship, and community events.

A well-organized food drive is fun & easy for all involved, we’ll walk you through each step!

PLANNING YOUR FOOD DRIVE

You’ve decided you’d like to host a food drive! Wonderful! Let’s talk details!

  • WHEN: Food drives serve a great need year round, so let us know when you’d like to hold one.
  • LENGTH: How long will your drive last? A week, day, an ongoing effort. Will it be associated with a specific event?
  • GOAL: Goals are a great way to motivate your group, a little friendly competition can be even better! You can set a goal by pounds or cans/boxes – be creative and don’t forget to update your participants throughout the drive!
  • THEME: A theme is not necessary for your food drive, but it can add a special touch and increase the fun for participants, especially for younger individuals.
  • SUPPLIES: What will you need for a successful food drive? Promotional materials, letters to parents if a school or youth organization, bag and/or boxes for collecting the food.

REGISTER YOUR FOOD DRIVE

Keep us in the loop! We love to know when you’re planning a drive so we can prepare accordingly. We rely on our volunteers to help receive large donations so please schedule your delivery ahead of time. Register here to host a food drive.

Register Your Food Drive

PROMOTE YOUR FOOD DRIVE

Let your community know what you’re up to!

  • Making posters and flyers can be especially fun for youth groups – don’t forget the theme!
  • Social Media is a wonderful way to reach people
  • Be sure to include your collection dates & location along with the type of items you’re seeking.
  • Please remind people of a few key details when donating:

COLLECT

This is where it all comes together!

  • There are a lot of details for this part & it can help to designate someone to coordinate it all.
  • Be sure everyone knows what they can donate, when & where! Clearly marked boxes or bins for collection helps.
  • You can help the Food Bank by organizing your donated items by product type (great idea for our young collectors) prior to dropping off the collection.
  • Deliver your donations to the Food Bank at 169 Gerald Street. CLICK HERE for more information on our donation drop-off schedule. 

ANNOUNCE

Now you get to celebrate your success!

  • Share with your community of supporters & contributors how much your food drive raised.
  • If you provide photos we will also gladly share your story on our Facebook page. Our followers love to see how others are helping our community!!

PLANNING A FOOD DRIVE

Print out our Food Drive planning Sheet to help you host your food drive

Food Drive Planning Sheet

Food Drive Theme Ideas

Add some fun and excitement to your food drive by specifying a theme for the food you collect. Some ideas to get you started:

  • Spaghetti Dinner or Pasta Patrol – Pastas, sauces (tomato & alfredo), parmesan cheese (shelf stable), Italian herbs & granulated garlic.
  • Wake Up Call or Rise & Shine – Coffee, Teas, Oatmeal, Cereal, Pancake mix & syrup
  • Hunger is Baked – Baking mixes (brownie, cake, muffins, etc.), oils, sugar, flour, pan spray
  • Meat the Need – Canned meats, tuna fish, sardines, stews
  • Snack Attack – Healthy snacks like dried fruits, trail mix, granola bars, whole grain crackers
  • Souper Bowl party (January) – soups & stews
  • Give from the Heart – heart healthy foods (February)
  • Cookout Time – condiments – Mayo, mustard, ketchup, pickles, salsas (June)
  • Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation – kid friendly lunch & snack items (Summer)
  • Winter Warm Up – stews, soups, canned pasta sauce & Sloppy Joe Sauce (Chef Boyardee, Manwich, etc), cocoa, coffee & tea
  • Food a Day for a weeklong collection – Macaroni Monday, Tuna Tuesday, Fruity Friday, etc.
  • Feel free to get creative and come up with your theme!!  You can consult our Current Needs List below to help in your planning!

Always needed foods and items:

  • Laundry detergent
  • Soup (Chunky, Progresso, etc.)
  • Canned pears and pineapple
  • Salt, pepper, and spices
  • Tomato products (stewed, paste, sauce, etc.)
  • Canned pasta sauce and Sloppy Joe sauce (Chef Boyardee, Manwich, etc.) 
  • Cooking Oil
  • Canned Chicken
  • Canned Carrots
  • Canned Beets
  • Rice 

 

Thank you for helping us to get food to those in need in our community!