Food Network
- Contact Your Agency Partner
Check with the organization to see
what they need and how you can best work together.
- Pick a date
Set a start and end date for your
food drive.
Recommendation – 3 weeks: It’s enough time to get the word
out and keep the momentum going.
- Set An Ambitious Goal
Do you want to collect one type of
food? Do you want to collect ten items for every employee in your office?
Are you trying to fill a specific number of boxes?
Recommendation – Ask your Agency Partner what a reasonable
goal might be.
- Pick a Great Collection Point
Identify a highly visible and convenient
location for people to collect and store the food.
Recommendation – The lobby, cafeteria or gym
- Spread the Word
Let everyone know what you’re doing.
Make it clear which items are needed most.
Recommendation – Use email, posters, newsletter articles &
announcements.
-
Collect
the Food
Let people drop off at convenient
dates and times. Make sure you have enough volunteers to help unload
& stack. Count the donations as they come in.
Recommendation – Provide boxes with labels ("Our School’s Food
Drive"). Choose smaller boxes, otherwise they are too heavy to carry
when full.
- Call Your Agency Partner
Share your success and coordinate
a time to get the food to them. Many agencies will pick up the food,
but it is really helpful if you can bring the food to them.
Recommendation – Plan ahead and have volunteers ready to deliver
the donations to the food pantry after the drive closes.
- Celebrate!
Announce the results and congratulate
the participants. Let them know how much their generosity is appreciated.
Recommendation – Find a very public way to thank everyone!
Download
How to have a Great Food Drive PDF.
