FOOD DRIVE RESOURCE PACKET

FOOD DRIVE RESOURCE PACKET

Table of Contents Understanding Hunger Food Drive Guidelines Holiday Food Drives Food Drive FAQ Food Drive Themes & Ideas Most Wanted Items Application 2 3 4 5 6 Like and Follow Us! Tabitha s Way Local Food Pantry South County Tabitha s Way Local Food Pantry North County Tabithas Way @tabithasway

Understanding Hunger Tabitha s Way has been committed to serving and empowering people who experience hunger. Our purpose is to provide free food and essential life-sustaining supplies to anyone in need with in our local communities. Food insecurity is defined by the Dietary Guidelines of America as the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. Utah s Hunger Facts According to the Utah Food Bank: 423,000 people are food insecure. That is 15% of Utah s population. 1 in 5 Utah kids are unsure where their next meal will come from 1 in 7 Utahans are at risk of missing a meal today 71% have had to choose between paying for transportation or food 60% have had to choose between paying for housing or food Hunger s Effect Hunger hurts families, children, seniors and those who are disabled. Hunger negatively impacts learning, health, productivity and potential for both children and adults. Children who are hungry have more difficulty learning in school. Childhood hunger and malnutrition can lead to irreversible health problems later in life. Your Donations Make a Difference Ninety-eight percent of every dollar donated directly supports food distribution. 2

Food Drive Guidelines 1. Register your Food Drive: At the earliest possible time, please register either on-line at or fill out the attached registration form and return it to one of our two locations. For larger food drives consisting of more than 5,000 lbs donated and/or more than five donor locations please register at least two weeks in advance. 2. Pick-up Food Barrels: If two or less food barrels are needed, we request donors pick-up the barrels and return them to the pantry. Picking up saves significant staff and transportation dollars which can then be used to purchase additional food for those in need. Barrels can be picked up at 140 N. Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 2pm or at 920 E. State Road Suite C, American Fork, Utah Tuesday through Friday 11am to 2pm. 3. During the food drive: Please do not overfill the food bins - 3/4 full is optimal. Keep in touch with Tabitha s Way staff if there are any concerns or changes during the food drive. Remember to spread the word about your food drive. Keep enthusiasm high by posting on social media, sending out email blasts, or holding a contest. 4. Food Drive Pick-Up: Food Drive pick-up is available for two or more barrels (500lbs). Due to limited resources we ask you to deliver your food drive to our pantry when possible. However, no deliveries on Saturdays please. Please schedule a pick-up of your donated items at least a week before the end of your drive. Pick ups will only be on Mondays and Fridays. Remember to confirm the pick-up and the number of bins two days prior to the schedule pick-up date. Holiday Food Drives Holiday food drive season typically runs from mid-october til early January. This is our busiest time of the year. If you plan to have a food drive during this time frame it is imperative you plan ahead. Please give us two weeks notice of when your food drive will be. This includes scheduling pick-up of barrels and delivery of donations. 3

Food Drive FAQ How long should a food drive be? We recommend 1-2 weeks. Ideally, it should be long enough to generate a good amount of food. What kind of foods are the most wanted? Please see page 5 in this packet or visit our website and click on Host a Food Drive for a full list. Do you accept monetary donations? Yes! Although we are grateful for food donations, for each dollar we get we can purchase the equivalent of 7 meals. Is there anything else I can do? Volunteer at one of our pantry locations! It s a great team-building activity and insight on how donations are put to use. For our North Utah County pantry email fooddrive@. Food Drive Themes & Ideas Game night with non-perishable food items as the participation fee. Distribute donation bags to participants to take home and return with food items. Host an event and donate the admission fee (food items or money) for food drive support. Generate a food pyramid. Ask participants to bring foods representing the food pyramid. Turn can collecting into a competition. Host a contest for the best food sculpture. Trick or Treat so others can eat! Forget the candy - collect canned foods to donate. Oh Baby! Collect diapers, wipes, formulas, infant cereal, and toddler meals. Sit and Stew - collect canned meat items such as stews, pork and beans, chicken, tuna, etc. Have a food scavenger hunt! Have groups go door to door to ask for donations on the list. 4

Most Wanted Food Drive List What We Need: Canned Meats (ie., tuna, chicken, salmon) Canned and boxed meals (ie., soup, chili, stew, macaroni & cheese) Peanut butter and other nut butters Canned or dried beans (ie., black, pinto, lentils) Pasta Rice Cereal (ie., boxed, oatmeal, cream of wheat) 100% fruit or vegetable juice (canned, plastic, or boxed) Cooking oil Baking mixes Shelf-stable milk Canned fruits and vegetables Baby Essentials (ie., formual, food, snacks) What We Can t Use: Rusty or unlabeled cans Perishable items (applies only to food drive) Homemade items Non-commercial canned or packaged items Alcoholic beverages or mixes Open or used items PLEASE NOTE: If you donate glass products, please box or bag them separately and label GLASS on all sides. 5

Food Drive Registration Form Drive Start Date: Drive End Date: Organization Name: Contact Person: Location of Drive: Phone: Email: Will you need bins?: Yes / No How many?: What day would you like to schedule your food barrel delivery? Bin Delivery Day: Best time(s): What day would you like to schedule your food drive pick-up? (If you would like Tabitha s Way to pick up your food barrels please schedule it for the following Monday or Friday after your drive ends.) Bin Pick-Up Day: Best time(s): IMPORTANT NOTE: We will try to meet your requested delivery and pick-up dates. However, due to high demand, we can t guarantee dates. Please make sure to contact us two days prior to your food barrel delivery and you drive ending to confirm your scheduled time. Complete this form and email it to fooddrive@ Or drop it off during business hours at one of our pantry locations 140 N. Main Street, Spanish Fork, Utah Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 2pm 801-709-8573 920 E. State Road Suite C, American Fork, Utah Tuesday through Friday 11am to 2pm. (801) 692-1881 6