Guide To Great Food Drives

GUIDE TO GREAT FOOD DRIVES

FIRST STEP: Learn about the issue of hunger Understand the problem, and how Second Harvest North Florida is making a difference

Hunger is not isolated to one event, one day or one season. Hunger does not discriminate by race, faith or age; it exists throughout our community, affecting people of all types: employed and unemployed, men, women and children, families and singles.

Someone YOU know may be hungry...

u u u

Your Co-Worker Your Elderly Neighbor Your Waitress

u u u

Your Friend Your Child’s Classmate Your Nurse

Food Poverty in North Florida:

u 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 5 children are hungry

u More than 250,000 people live in poverty

u More than 80,000 of those living in poverty are children

u More than 100,000 people live in poverty in Duval County

You can help change this: Food drives are a key resource the Food Bank uses to provide food to people who need it the most. By successfully hosting a food drive, you help Second Harvest to nourish hope in our communities.

GUIDE TO GREAT FOOD DRIVES (PAGE 2)

SECOND STEP: Planning for your food drive

A successful food drive can be simple with a little thoughtful planning. Some things to remember: Overall coordination of the food drive Find a Champion - the most successful food drives have someone who is passionate about food relief! Decide who this champion is - let them oversee the process, including the publicity, promotion, physical collection, delivery of the Publicity and Promotion Making a plan to publicize the food drive and encourage the support and involvement of the community is very important (whether it is your co-workers, friends, neighborhood, team, church or other any other group). ‌u‌Fliers – an inexpensive, simple flier that can be used to help promote your food drive can be very effective. For example, fliers can be used as tray liners in your cafeteria or break room, distributed at meetings, posted on bulletin boards, put in the inter-office mail, or used as an insert in a newsletter or church bulletin. ‌u Theme – A food drive theme can set the tone for any promotional materials. Choose a theme that connects to the interests of your organization and responds to its feelings about hunger in our community. For example, a grocery store’s theme was, “Fill Your Cart and Fill Your Heart,” and a video store used, “Fast Forward to End Hunger.” ‌u Competition – Some friendly competition can really help get a food drive going. Have teams, departments or floors face off in a competition to help end hunger and compete for the heaviest barrel, or most filled barrels. Also consider tapping into people’s sports team pride and see whether Florida, Georgia or Florida State fans are the most charitable. Have your organization match the donated food in some way, such as a canned ham or cash donation for every 100 pounds of food donated by the participants.

food donations and communication with Second Harvest.

COllection and Delivery Once a food drive begins, it is important to have collection sites that are in well-traveled and visible areas. These sites also serve as ongoing publicity for your food drive. Place a well-marked container at each collection site. Medium-sized cardboard boxes work well – feel free to decorate! You can use posters provided in the Food Bank Coordinator’s kit or create your own.

The Food Bank also has 30-gallon barrels, wrapped with an attractive glossy color graphic, that are perfect for collecting the food and for advertising the food drive. Pick them up at the Food Bank, or we can arrange for the barrels to be dropped off empty and to be picked up when full. Food drive drop-offs and pick-ups can be schedule for Tuesdays, 7am - 3pm. Call (904) 353-FOOD (3663) to make arrangements.

GUIDE TO GREAT FOOD DRIVES (PAGE 3) FINANCIAL DONATIONS It is common for people to prefer making a monetary donation in lieu of a food donation. As a member of Feeding America, the nation’s network of Food Banks, Second Harvest has access to an incredible network of national food manufacturers and distributors. Financial contributions allow Second Harvest to transport donated food from around the country to the hungry men, women and children of North Florida. In fact, for every $1 donated, Second Harvest is able to generate six meals for people in need! Make checks payable to Second Harvest North Florida, and designate one person to mail or deliver checks.

Note: Second Harvest North Florida is an IRS registered non-profit, and all donations (both food and monetary) are tax deductible.

CONTACT INFORMATION For more ideas, tips, suggestions or questions – or to request help – please contact: Jessie Sanders 904.517.5560 / jsanders@wenourishhope.org.

SECOND HARVEST HOURS OF OPERATION To deliver a food donation or take a tour of the Food Bank, come by Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. A staff member will assist you in unloading your vehicle and prepare a donation receipt for your records. Second Harvest is located at: 1502 Jessie Street, Jacksonville, FL 32206.

For more information, visit us online: www.WeNourishHope.org WHAT TYPES OF FOOD SHOULD BE DONATED? The Second Harvest Food Bank needs non-perishable grocery items. The following is a list of our most frequently requested items by our member agencies and clients:

u‌Meals in a can

u‌Canned meat/poultry

u‌ Canned tuna

u‌Dry beans

u‌Boxes of pasta/macaroni

u‌ Macaroni and Cheese

u‌Rice

u‌Nonfat dry milk

u‌ Evaporated milk

u‌Peanut butter

u‌Canned veggies

u‌ Canned fruit

u‌Oatmeal

u‌Canned soup

u‌ Diapers

u‌Baby food

* Please note that Second Harvest Food can only accept unopened, unexpired items. We also cannot accept “homemade” canned jellies, jams or vegetables.