Organizing Your Food Drive
Call Megan at Second Harvest to register your food drive at 477-4053 or email her at donatefood@netfoodbank.org.
Determine how and where food will be collected. You can use boxes, barrels or bins. Small to medium-size boxes work well for food drives. We can deliver barrels with at least 48 hours notice.
Give us a starting/ending date and location of the drive. Once collected, you can deliver the food directly to us and we can give you a food bank tour. Call us and we will come and pick it up. Due to higher fuel costs we will make the pick ups based on our current truck routes. This could take a couple of days depending on the service area location.
If you are using our barrels to collect food they come with a poster or wrap that says “Food Drive to Benefit Second Harvest”. You may decorate the barrels by wrapping them with paper and then decorating the paper. PLEASE do not mark on the barrels or barrel wraps.
Appoint someone in charge of logistics; i.e., barrel locations and the physical collection of the food. Set a goal: Decide how much food you would like to collect during your food drive. How many potential contributors do you have? How much can you expect to collect? Will you collect food or cash-or both?
Consider holding internal competitions (between departments, floors, etc.) Award the winners with special recognition such as pizza, etc.
Spread the word!!! Create a poster explaining your food drive and post it on walls, barrels, etc. to inform others. Put small fliers in paychecks, and mention in other communication with your group, like e-mails and newsletters.
What happens to the food once it gets to Second Harvest?
• Volunteers sort and box the items in the warehouse.
• The food is distributed to charities who serve those in need in Northeast TN.
• There is absolutely no cost to the donor or the charity.
SHOPPING LIST
Food items we always need include:
• Cereal/Rice/Dried Beans
• Canned Tuna Fish/Meat
• Canned Soups
• Spaghetti Sauce/Pasta/Noodles
• Peanut Butter
• Canned Tomatoes/Veggies/Fruit
• Mac & Cheese
• Baby Food
• Diapers
Priority items needed: Cereal, canned fruit and vegetables.
We need nutritious, shelf stable food.
But remember no home-canned or glass products please.
Food drives provide food to hungry people who need it. Even the smallest gifts, just a few cans, make a positive impact in peoples lives every day. Every person can make a difference.
Begin promoting your food drive now. Share information throughout your community to raise involvement in the process by placing posters in your windows.
You can also run a “Virtual Food Drive”. It is your drive, so promote the food and/or fund drive in bulletins, through local media, at neighborhood grocery stores, and any other place you can think of. By doing a food and/or fund drive, you are making a difference in helping feed the hungry.
Thank you for your support!