Creative Food Drive Ideas!
Food drives are such a huge help to us to keep the Food Pantry stocked, and it's a GREAT way for people of all ages in the community to help those in need! However, sometimes it's fun to change things up a bit just to keep things fresh, new and fun! We've found a list of creative food drive ideas that just might be of interest to you! Please feel free to browse, use and/or expand upon any of the ideas listed below!
Canstructure
Have different departments/grades build items out of canned goods. Employees/students could then vote with their spare change on the structure they like best. The winning team would receive a prize. All the canned goods and funds are then donated to the Food Pantry.
Rock the Vote
Have employees/students vote with their spare change (or even dollars) for an executive or teacher who will have to complete an agreed upon activity. The individual with the most votes may have to kiss a cow, shave their head or be hit in the face with a pie.
Company Matches
Encourage your company to match your cash donation. Speak to your company management or Human Resource Department about a financial match program.
Church Collection
Encourage your congregation to request an offering with donations to benefit the community Food Pantry.
Loose Change
Have a "loose change" bin sitting at your company's cafeteria or break room. As employees eat lunch they can put their loose change in the collection bin to be donated to the community Food Pantry.
Penny Wars
Find large glass jars, place in rooms and have a race to see who can fill up their jars with pennies. Adding bills to an opposing team's jar requires them to subtract money from their total amount. If you put in a $5 bill, the other team takes $5 off their total.
Incentive Programs
Work with organizations in your community to establish food drive incentive programs. For example, if a person donates$25 to your event then they receive a "buy one, get one free" movie coupon or a discounted purchase at a local business.
Preferred Food Items
Utilize the list of current food needs and designate "items of the day" for people to donate each day.
Shopping Cart Race
Organize a race between the police chief and sheriff (or other local leaders). Contestants race through the grocery store to fill carts with food items for the Food Pantry. The cart with the most food in the allotted time wins. Businesses or civic groups "back" one participant or the other and pay for the cart of groceries.
For Youth Groups
Youth group members can "kidnap" their youth leader, minister or priest. The ransom is food for the Food Pantry from the adult members.
Business vs. Business
Challenge your major market competitor to see whose employees can collect more? (Bangs, real estate agencies, insurance agencies, etc.)
Teachers and Staff vs. Students
Who can collect more from their family and friends? Teachers or students?
For the church
The pastor will set a goal to gather specific types of food. If the congregation meets the goal, the pastor (or pastoral staff) will dress up like the food or a pre-determined costume.
Giving Tree
Decorate a tree with ornaments that list suggested Food Pantry donations. Encourage parishoners to bring those items (or cash) back the following week.
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