Organize a Food Drive

Organize a Food Drive

Food Drive Kit

Food drives can be a fun and easy way to support your local food bank or food-rescue organization. Food drives provide nearly one-third of the food that Feeding America® food banks distribute annually.

Although it might seem like a daunting task, it's actually pretty easy to host a food drive, and we can help make it even easier. We'll give you everything you need—from basic instructions to posters you can use to publicize your food drive.

The best way to ensure your food drive is a success is to do a little planning. Check out our instructions for running a successful food drive

Our suggestions are just general guidelines—you might want to contact your local food bank to see which items your local food bank needs most.

How To Run A Food Drive

A little planning can go a long way in ensuring your food drive is a success. So, we've created an instruction guide to help you make sure your food drive goes off without a hitch.

Contact Your Local Food Bank

Tell them about your plans to hold a food drive and ask if they have any tips or pointers. This also might be a good time to find out the best way/time to drop off your food.

Build a Team

The White House’s volunteer initiative, Serve.gov, has great tips for starting your own food drive. One suggestion is to plan a food drive with your family, friends, colleagues or faith group members. Working in teams can help share the work, motivate members and make your food drive even more successful.

Set a Date

Pick a date or dates for your food drive. Single-day events can be very successful; if the food drive goes on for too long, people could lose interest.

Also, make sure the date you pick gives you plenty of time to prepare for your food drive and get the word out.

Pick a Location

Decide where you want to hold your food drive. Make sure there is plenty of space for your collection bins and the food you gather.

Publicize Your Event

A key to success will be making sure lots of people know about your food drive so they can donate. Use our Customizable Event Poster to help spread the word. Simply fill in the appropriate details, print, and hang around town. You'll have people lining up to donate.

Download the Customizable Event Poster

Collection Barrel Sign

Confusion can set in on your big day if people don't know where to drop off their food. Print out our Collection Barrel Signs and affix them to places where people can put their donated items. You can put them on boxes, bins, and bags—actual barrels are not necessary.

Download the Collection Barrel Sign

Download a List of Suggested Donations

Set Your Goals and Parameters

Figure out how much food you would like to collect. Decide whether or not you will accept just food, just cash, or both. You should consider taking money donations—just $1 can be transformed to 20 pounds of food and grocery products for hungry children.

Develop a Collection System

Figure out how you want to collect the food. Consider how you will transport the food once the food drive is over. It will be easiest to lift small- to medium-sized boxes.

Drop Off Collected Food

Once your food drive ends, it's time to drop off your food to the people in need. If you haven't already, contact your local food bank to find out when and how they like to receive donations.

More Tools

Our partner organizations also offer great ideas about how to organize food donations. Check out Feeding America and Share Our Strength for more information.