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ORGANIZING YOUR FOOD DRIVE


Community food drives are a terrific resource for Cor Unum, and a great opportunity for average people to help their hungry neighbors in a tangible way. Food drives are organized by individuals and groups such as schools, businesses, and philanthropic and religious organizations. Many people run a food drive in conjunction with another event, to promote hunger awareness while helping those in need.


WHERE DO WE START?

  1. Register: Register your food drive with Cor Unum. Print the Registration Form from our website and fax it to (978) 681-5808 or email it to us at corunumealcenter@comcast.net.


  2. Set Your Goals: Setting a target will focus your efforts and make your drive more effective. Will you collect food, raise money, or both? Do you want to collect all types of food, or choose a theme, such as Italian Night or Backyard Barbeque? Decide on a realistic amount per participant – based on past drives or perhaps to set a new record!


  3. Promote, Promote, Promote! You’ll find some promotional material on our website, or invent your own. Get creative! You might consider posters, sandwich boards, flyers, advertisements (in local media or group newsletters, bulletin boards, etc.). If you are sending invitations, consider enclosing a donation envelope.


IDEAS FOR A FUN, CREATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL FOOD DRIVE

  1. Recruit an angel: Ask a prominent figure in your group or community to champion your cause by making the first donation and a personal appeal to participants. Leadership is key.


  2. Fuel that Competitive Spirit: Ask group or community leaders to match donations or issue a “challenge” gift for the participants to meet. This may mean dollars for pounds, pounds for pounds, employee incentives, or other creative methods. Knowing each gift has added value will be a powerful motivator for donors.


  3. Communicate Clearly: Publicize your goals, and be clear about how participants can help to meet them. Distribute lists of most-needed items on pocket-sized cards that can be tucked in a handy place until shopping day. Remind participants of deadlines and/or update them on the progress of the drive via email or postcards.


  4. Remember to Have Fun! Set up contests between subgroups, and award prizes to generate excitement. Have a leader volunteer to do something a little crazy if an incremental goal is met (like dye or shave their hair, get a cream pie in the face, dress in costume for a day, etc.) Find a sponsor to donate a prize or two, and hold a raffle. If your food drive is not tied to another event, consider holding a kickoff party or other gathering to get more people involved.

HELPFUL MATERIALS AND FORMS