Food Drive, Volunteer

ANYONE CAN RUN A FOOD DRIVE:

HERE’S HOW!

You don’t have to be part of the food industry to make a food donation, even if you have a small team you can make a big difference. Anyone can run a food drive, at work, in your schools, in churches, in community centers, anywhere that people go regularly. All you need are some boxes, a little organization and a desire to be a part of the hunger solution. Let us help you with some tips on how to organize a successful food drive!

6 Easy Steps

FOR A SUCCESSFUL FOOD DRIVE

Plan Ahead
Select a leadership committee to plan the food drive, manage the communications and logistics, and set goals.

Determine timing for the food drive, such as holidays, special events, etc.

Determine the types of food you will collect.

Identify your needs. Consider how many of the following items you need:

Containers for collecting food (strong boxes, clean storage bins and paper supply boxes with covers work well).

Sign postings, letters, emails, etc., for generating awareness and interest.

Envelopes for participants who may also want to make a financial donation.

2. Register with the Food Bank

Contact the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, (940) 766-2322, ask for Michelle Schuster, Operations Manager or email her at wfafb@wfafb.org.

3. Set Your Goal

Determine your goal for pounds of food to be collected, number of boxes or even number of cans. Aim high, but be realistic, too! If you did a food drive last year, set this year’s goal above last year’s. For fun, consider a competition between departments (or between grades at school).

4. Get Company Management Involved

Garner the support of company executives to set a standard for participation to help motivate employees. Consider a "matching program" in which your company will match each pound you collect with its own donation of dollars or food. Incorporate a volunteer component in which company leadership and employees volunteer their time at the Food Bank’s warehouse to sort food collected from the food drive.

5. Promote Your Food Drive

Consider a launch event at your company to announce the food drive.
Hang up signs, send letters or emails, get it listed in your organization’s newsletter or bulletin.
Distribute printed materials available from the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank upon request.
Install a tracking system to keep participants updated about the food drive’s progress.

6. Transporting The Donation

We encourage you to bring your donations directly to the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, located at 1230 Midwestern Parkway. If you need help transporting your donation, the Food Bank will arrange to pick up your donation as soon as possible (Contact Michelle Schuster at 766-2322 to make arrangements).