FOOD DRIVES
Many organizations, churches, schools,
businesses, and more choose to help the food
bank each year through organizing food
drives among their members. Oftentimes this
coincides with the holidays, but many times
it does not. After all, people are hungry
365 days a year, not just over the holidays.
What is a Food Drive?
A food drive is a concentrated effort to
collect non-perishable canned foods in a one
day to three week period.
Why Have Food Drives?
In the state of Alabama, over 750,000
residents are struggling to survive. Poverty
and hunger are growing at a time when the
most recent statistics from the Comptroller
General’s Office indicate that over 137
million tons of food worth over $31 billion
is wasted annually—enough to feed 49 million
people! Your help is needed to take
significant steps toward ending this
problem. Even if your food drive provides
enough food for only a few families, your
drive will be a successful one!
Where Does The Food Go?
The food collected will be distributed
to community-based not-for-profit feeding
agencies. These agencies include senior
service centers, community kitchens, day
care centers, food pantries, shelters for
women and children, and more. Each agency is
a not-for-profit registered charity.
Containers
Place containers in central areas that are
highly visible and easily accessible to food
donors. Cardboard boxes work best for
smaller food drives and provide an
opportunity to personalize the food drive.
For example, a holiday food drive box could
be decorated with wrapping paper, or a
display area could be created to make the
containers more eye-catching.
Transportation Of Food
Groups are encouraged to deliver their boxes
or barrels to the food bank when the drive
is complete, or periodically, as the
containers fill to capacity. However, if you
need to have us pick up your food after your
drive ends, please let us know and we will
schedule a pick-up date.
Most Needed Foods
• Meats: Canned meat (Spam, ham, meat
spread, beef stew, chicken)
• Dairy: Evaporated milk, canned cheese,
powdered milk, shelf stable milk, puddings,
custards
• Breads & Cereals: Baking mix, muffin mix,
dry cereal, oatmeal, grits, rice, pasta
noodles, cornmeal, sugar, flour.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Canned fruit
(citrus sections, oranges, pineapples,
applesauce, apricots), canned juices
(tomato, orange, pineapple, grape), canned
vegetables, soups, dried fruits (raisins,
apricots, prunes)
• Miscellaneous: Macaroni and Cheese,
spaghetti sauces, boxed juice, peanut
butter, canned nuts, jams and jellies.
You can also save our agencies money by
donated non-food items, household goods that
still greatly impact a family’s budget,
including:
• Paper towels, plates, napkins, cups,
plastic utensils
• Bar Soap, Dishwashing Soap
• Toilet Paper
• Laundry Detergent
• Any paper, cleaning, or hygiene items
THANK YOU!!!
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