Food
and fund drives are fun and positive team building experiences that can help
your group feel more connected to the community. Each year, hundreds of local
businesses, school and church groups, state agencies, individuals and many
others sponsor fund and food drives that benefit the Foodbank of the Virginia
Peninsula.
Your
efforts make an enormous difference in the amount and variety of foods we are
able to distribute. Even a small team can make a big difference.
Additional
questions about food and fund drives may be answered by calling (757) 596-7188.
Most Requested Items:
Meats,
Fish and Protein – canned tuna, ham or chicken, beef stew, chili, peanut
butter, canned/dried beans
Fruits
and Vegetables – 100% fruit juice, canned fruits and vegetables, instant
potatoes, fruit preserves
Complete
Meals – pasta and sauce, boxed meals, hearty soups
Cleaning
Supplies – laundry detergent, paper towels, kitchen and bathroom cleaners
Remember,
with every dollar donated we can provide four meals in the community and have
change leftover! No glass containers, perishable items or home canned foods,
please!
Five
Steps to a Successful Food Drive
Set a Goal
Set a
goal for the amount of food and financial contributions to be raised. Setting a
target allows you to build momentum. The goal can be based on the amount raised
during the previous drive, or you can seta goal based on the number of
participants. Sometimes your goal may be directly tied to a theme. For example, a local high school holds a
Peanut Butter and Jelly Valentine’s Dance. To enter the festivities, boys bring a container of peanut butter and
girl bring jelly! For purposes of
comparing dollars to pounds, count each dollar donated as equaling five pounds
of food.
Promote Your Food and Fund Drive
Share
information throughout your community and/or organization to raise involvement
early in the process. Publicize, publicize, publicize! Posters, flyers,
e-mails, newsletter articles, payroll inserts, and public service announcements
are all effective ways to let people know about your food drive. It’s helpful
to provide a contact person within your organization who can answer questions.
Decide between Boxes or Barrels,
Checks or Change
The Foodbank
does not have boxes typically, but barrels with posters are available upon
request. Small to medium-size boxes (copy-paper boxes) work well for food
drives. We encourage you to use boxes for any drive generating fewer than 150
pounds of food. Here’s an illustration
of how barrels can be utilized to help you set your goals and plan your food
drive:
Barrel Size
Pounds Contained
Example Goal
Please Request
Large
100lbs.
canned or 50lbs. dry
400lbs.
(assuming a 50/50 mix of canned and dry)
5-6
large barrels
Small
50lbs.
canned or 25lbs. dry
200lbs.
(assuming a 50/50 mix of canned and dry)
6
small barrels
If you choose to hold a
fund drive, you will need to decide how you are collecting the funds. You can collect leftover lunch change in a
money box (the Foodbank can provide these as well) or have individuals write
checks to the Foodbank. You can also
convert money into a money order or check to present to the Foodbank.
Increasing Value
Increase
the value of your donation by delivering your food drive items directly to the
Foodbank. However, if you are unable to donate the transportation for your food
drive, you can arrange to have the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula pick up
your donation. Due to the demand for large donation pick-ups and other
regularly scheduled operational trucking functions, your flexibility is needed
and appreciated. Deliveries and pick-ups occur between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM,
Monday through Friday. Please note that during the holiday season, our pickup
schedule fills quickly.
Why Add Funds to Your Food Drive?
We encourage fund drives for
individuals and organizations who are interested in the best way to help the
Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula fight hunger. For every dollar donated, the
Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula is able to distribute more than ten dollars
worth of food to hunger-relief agencies.
Monetary donations provide the
greatest benefit to the hungry families, children and seniors in our community.
Even if you are already committed to doing a food drive, consider the option of
adding a fund drive. Many individuals would rather write a tax-deductable check
than pick up extra food at the grocery store for a food drive. We encourage individuals to donate in a way
that makes them the most comfortable, whether it’s food, funds, or some combination
of those things.
Donation Amount
Provides
$10.00
40 meals
$20.00
80 meals
$50.00
200 meals
$100.00
400 meals
If you are ready to get started for
the registration contact Loretta Jones or Bill Fite at (757) 595-2507 or, if
you received this by email, email it to ljones@nnfoodbank.org
and to Bill Fite at bfite@nnfoodbank.org.
Food/Fund
Drive Form
***Please
fill out and fax to (757) 595-2507 or email information to bfite@nnfoodbank.org
Organization
Info
Name
of organization: ________________________________________________________________
Goal
(pounds and/or funds you wish to collect: __________________________________________
If
applicable, how many barrels do you need? ____________________________________________
If
applicable, how many money collection boxes do you need?
_____________________________
Will
you (circle one) PICK UP THE
SUPPLIES NEED DELIVERY OF
SUPPLIES
If you need delivery, what date would
you like the supplies? ________________________
Will
you (circle one) DELIVER THE
DONATIONS NEED THE DONATIONS PICKED
UP
If you need pick up, what date would
you prefer? __________________________________
**One week notice is requested for
all pick up and delivery requests. Thank
you!
Please
assure that your receptionist can direct Foodbank staff to where the donation
is being kept.
Thank
you for planning a food/fund drive! Without your generosity, we would not be
able to meet the increasing demand among the Peninsula’s hungry. If you need
any help during the duration of your food/fund drive, you may contact Bill Fite
at (757) 596-7188 ext. 21 or bfite@nnfoodbank.org