Canned meats and fish (chicken, ham, beef, tuna, salmon)
Peanuts and peanut butter
Beans (canned, baked, or dried)
Dairy:
Yogurt (not past expiration)
Cheese (not past expiration)
Grains
Whole grain, low-sugar cereal
Whole grain crackers and popcorn
Whole grain enriched pasta and instant rice
Miscellaneous:
Spaghetti sauce
Salsa
Reduced-sodium broths and soups
Salad dressings or spreads
Baby food (not past expiration date)
Meal Makers:
Boxed meals that can be easily made (ex. Hamburger Helper)
Signs that may mean food is unsafe to eat:
Cans:
Crushed so they will not stack
Crushed at the end seam
Dents with sharp edges
Dents deep enough to rest a finger in
Severe rust pits
Swollen or bulging edges
Holes, fractures, or punctures
Evidence of leakage
Signs of spoilage when opened (spurting; unusual odor or appearance)
Baby food or formula past expiration
Missing label
Glass jars:
Home-canned foods
Raised, crooked, or loosened lid
Cracks or chips
Signs of spoilage (dis colored food or cloudy liquid)
Dirt under the rim
Baby food past the expiration date
Paperboard cartons:
Packages that are opened.
Evidence of insects.
Baby food past the expiration date.
Plan Ahead
Select a recipient to receive your donations.This can be your local food bank and/or anti-hunger agency that provides food or meals to the needy.
Contact the organization- they may be able to provide barrels or other containers for food collections.
Determine how many collection barrels you need.
Create posters and flyers to generate awareness of hunger issues and food dives.
Donation envelopes- for those wishing to make a monetary donation.
Select a committee to organize the food drive and delegate duties.
Establish Basics
Create a theme! Make it FUN! Themes often help generate excitement around a food drive and aid in the creation of promotional materials.
Set beginning and end dates for the drive.
Determine collection sites and who will deliver items to your recipient (s) at the end of the drive.
Set a goal for how much food and/ or money to collect (i.e. one million pennies, total weight = pounds of food to collect, certain number of bags of groceries).
Communicate above information to all participants.
Promote the Food Drive
Create promotional materials that will help build awareness about hunger issues and your food drive.
Hold contest for designing posters and flyers.
Include food drive information in school newsletters, emails, and calendars.
Notify local community centers about the food drive.
Distribute flyers and posters around the community.
Mark progress with thermometer or total board.
Announce results of your collection efforts to your community.
Canned meats and fish (chicken, ham, beef, tuna, salmon)
Peanuts and peanut butter
Beans (canned, baked, or dried)
Dairy:
Yogurt (not past expiration)
Cheese (not past expiration)
Grains
Whole grain, low-sugar cereal
Whole grain crackers and popcorn
Whole grain enriched pasta and instant rice
Miscellaneous:
Spaghetti sauce
Salsa
Reduced-sodium broths and soups
Salad dressings or spreads
Baby food (not past expiration date)
Meal Makers:
Boxed meals that can be easily made (ex. Hamburger Helper)
Signs that may mean food is unsafe to eat:
Cans:
Crushed so they will not stack
Crushed at the end seam
Dents with sharp edges
Dents deep enough to rest a finger in
Severe rust pits
Swollen or bulging edges
Holes, fractures, or punctures
Evidence of leakage
Signs of spoilage when opened (spurting; unusual odor or appearance)
Baby food or formula past expiration
Missing label
Glass jars:
Home-canned foods
Raised, crooked, or loosened lid
Cracks or chips
Signs of spoilage (dis colored food or cloudy liquid)
Dirt under the rim
Baby food past the expiration date
Paperboard cartons:
Packages that are opened.
Evidence of insects.
Baby food past the expiration date.
Plan Ahead
Select a recipient to receive your donations.This can be your local food bank and/or anti-hunger agency that provides food or meals to the needy.
Contact the organization- they may be able to provide barrels or other containers for food collections.
Determine how many collection barrels you need.
Create posters and flyers to generate awareness of hunger issues and food dives.
Donation envelopes- for those wishing to make a monetary donation.
Select a committee to organize the food drive and delegate duties.
Establish Basics
Create a theme! Make it FUN! Themes often help generate excitement around a food drive and aid in the creation of promotional materials.
Set beginning and end dates for the drive.
Determine collection sites and who will deliver items to your recipient (s) at the end of the drive.
Set a goal for how much food and/ or money to collect (i.e. one million pennies, total weight = pounds of food to collect, certain number of bags of groceries).
Communicate above information to all participants.
Promote the Food Drive
Create promotional materials that will help build awareness about hunger issues and your food drive.
Hold contest for designing posters and flyers.
Include food drive information in school newsletters, emails, and calendars.
Notify local community centers about the food drive.
Distribute flyers and posters around the community.
Mark progress with thermometer or total board.
Announce results of your collection efforts to your community.
