Lowcountry Food Bank

Starting a Food Drive

Thousands of Lowcountry residents, schools, churches, and businesses generously donate food to the Lowcountry Food Bank each year through a variety of corporate, civic, and holiday food drives.

What is a Food Drive?
A food drive is a concentrated effort to collect non-perishable food in a certain time period. You and/or your organization will work with the Lowcountry Food Bank in coordinating your organization's food drive. When planning a food drive, here are some important questions to ask yourself:

Common Questions to ask yourself before starting a Food Drive:

  1. What dates do you want your Food Drive to occur?
  2. Do you want the Food Drive to have a theme, such as Help the Hungry ?
  3. Do you have containers to put food in or do you need some barrels from the Food Bank?
  4. Where are you going to place your containers to collect food (in each classroom, in the lunch room, in the office, etc.)
  5. How will you let people know about the Food Drive? (daily announcements, flyers, posters, newsletters, etc.)
  6. Will there be an incentive for participants?
  7. Is there a designated person who will deliver the food to the Food Bank or does the Food Bank need to pick up the food at the end of the Food Drive?

How is the food collected?
Place food drive containers in central areas that are easily accessible. The Lowcountry Food Bank has barrels (55 gallon fiberboard drums) that can be borrowed for your food drive. Each barrel will hold between 100 and 150 pounds of food. If you will need barrels, please notify the Lowcountry Food Bank at the beginning of your food drive by calling or emailing our Food Solicitor, Amy Kosar, at (843) 747-8146, ext. 108.

How is the food transported?
Please consider assisting the Lowcountry Food Bank in lowering its fuel and manpower costs by making arrangements for your organization to pick-up supplies and delivering the food collected if at all possible. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. However, if the amount of food is too great to be transported by car, please contact us for a pick-up (please allow a minimum 24 hour notice) by calling or emailing our Food Solicitor, Amy Kosar, at (843) 747-8146, ext. 108.

Are you ready to start your own food drive?
We hope so! Here are the steps to get you well on your way!

Register your food drive with the Lowcountry Food Bank
Promote your food drive with a food drive poster
Use our list of most needed items to help make a greater impact

More Useful Information:

Food Drive Items that support the Lowcountry Food Bank's Nutrition Initiative

Protein Products

  • Peanut Butter
  • Canned chicken,salmon or tuna in water
  • Canned sardines in water
  • Low-salt/no-salt canned beans
  • Dried lentils & beans
  • Shelf stable soy milk

Fruits and Vegetables

  • Low-salt/no-salt canned vegetables
  • Low-sugar/sugar free canned fruit
  • Low sodium pasta sauces

Bread, Flour & Cereals

  • Brown rice (regular, parboiled, etc)
  • Whole wheat, multigrain pastas
  • 100% Whole grain cereals
  • Rolled oats
  • Reduced sugar instant oatmeal
  • Whole wheat flour
  • Instant yeast

 

Snacks

  • Sugar free jello
  • Sugar free puddings (shelf stable)
  • Rice cakes
  • Reduced fat cookies (any variety)
  • Reduced sugar/sugar free cookies
  • Dried fruit (prunes, raisins, cranberries, apples, pineapples)
  • 100% Whole wheat crackers

Dried Herbs with no Salt

  • Celery Seed
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Oregano
  • Thyme
  • Dill
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Curry Powder
  • Poultry Seasoning
  • Cumin
  • Cayenne Pepper

Miscellaneous

  • Fat free cooking sprays
  • Canola oil
  • Olive oil
  • Molasses
  • Low fat/fat free mayonnaise
  • Mustards
  • Sugar free preserves/jellies
  • Caffeine free herbal teas
  • Bottled lemon and/or lime juice
  • Flavored vinegars
  • Molasses
  • Low fat/fat free salad dressings

 

Dairy Products

  • Non-fat dry milk
  • Low fat/skim evaporated milk
  • Low fat/skim condensed milk

Starting a Food Drive

Thousands of Lowcountry residents, schools, churches, and businesses generously donate food to the Lowcountry Food Bank each year through a variety of corporate, civic, and holiday food drives.

What is a Food Drive?
A food drive is a concentrated effort to collect non-perishable food in a certain time period. You and/or your organization will work with the Lowcountry Food Bank in coordinating your organization's food drive. When planning a food drive, here are some important questions to ask yourself:

Common Questions to ask yourself before starting a Food Drive:

  1. What dates do you want your Food Drive to occur?
  2. Do you want the Food Drive to have a theme, such as Help the Hungry ?
  3. Do you have containers to put food in or do you need some barrels from the Food Bank?
  4. Where are you going to place your containers to collect food (in each classroom, in the lunch room, in the office, etc.)
  5. How will you let people know about the Food Drive? (daily announcements, flyers, posters, newsletters, etc.)
  6. Will there be an incentive for participants?
  7. Is there a designated person who will deliver the food to the Food Bank or does the Food Bank need to pick up the food at the end of the Food Drive?

How is the food collected?
Place food drive containers in central areas that are easily accessible. The Lowcountry Food Bank has barrels (55 gallon fiberboard drums) that can be borrowed for your food drive. Each barrel will hold between 100 and 150 pounds of food. If you will need barrels, please notify the Lowcountry Food Bank at the beginning of your food drive by calling or emailing our Food Solicitor, Amy Kosar, at (843) 747-8146, ext. 108.

How is the food transported?
Please consider assisting the Lowcountry Food Bank in lowering its fuel and manpower costs by making arrangements for your organization to pick-up supplies and delivering the food collected if at all possible. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. However, if the amount of food is too great to be transported by car, please contact us for a pick-up (please allow a minimum 24 hour notice) by calling or emailing our Food Solicitor, Amy Kosar, at (843) 747-8146, ext. 108.

Are you ready to start your own food drive?
We hope so! Here are the steps to get you well on your way!

Register your food drive with the Lowcountry Food Bank
Promote your food drive with a food drive poster
Use our list of most needed items to help make a greater impact

More Useful Information:

Food Drive Items that support the Lowcountry Food Bank's Nutrition Initiative

Protein Products

  • Peanut Butter
  • Canned chicken,salmon or tuna in water
  • Canned sardines in water
  • Low-salt/no-salt canned beans
  • Dried lentils & beans
  • Shelf stable soy milk

Fruits and Vegetables

  • Low-salt/no-salt canned vegetables
  • Low-sugar/sugar free canned fruit
  • Low sodium pasta sauces

Bread, Flour & Cereals

  • Brown rice (regular, parboiled, etc)
  • Whole wheat, multigrain pastas
  • 100% Whole grain cereals
  • Rolled oats
  • Reduced sugar instant oatmeal
  • Whole wheat flour
  • Instant yeast

 

Snacks

  • Sugar free jello
  • Sugar free puddings (shelf stable)
  • Rice cakes
  • Reduced fat cookies (any variety)
  • Reduced sugar/sugar free cookies
  • Dried fruit (prunes, raisins, cranberries, apples, pineapples)
  • 100% Whole wheat crackers

Dried Herbs with no Salt

  • Celery Seed
  • Italian Seasoning
  • Oregano
  • Thyme
  • Dill
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Curry Powder
  • Poultry Seasoning
  • Cumin
  • Cayenne Pepper

Miscellaneous

  • Fat free cooking sprays
  • Canola oil
  • Olive oil
  • Molasses
  • Low fat/fat free mayonnaise
  • Mustards
  • Sugar free preserves/jellies
  • Caffeine free herbal teas
  • Bottled lemon and/or lime juice
  • Flavored vinegars
  • Molasses
  • Low fat/fat free salad dressings

 

Dairy Products

  • Non-fat dry milk
  • Low fat/skim evaporated milk
  • Low fat/skim condensed milk

From Shelf to the Hungry!

Thanks to our Store Donation Program partners, our agencies feed thousands of food insecure individuals everyday.  Listen as NPR shares a powerful story about how food banks across the country depend on this special relationship.  A Squash's journey.... 

LCFB Announces New Director

The Lowcountry Food Bank Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Pat Walker will be joining the Lowcountry Food Bank as President and CEO on January 17, 2012. Please read the full announcement and learn more about our future President and CEO. 

Bon Appetit-February eNewsletter

Click here to view the Lowcountry Food Bank's February Bon Appetit eNewsletter. To sign up to receive our monthy Bon Appetit, please contact the Lowcountry Food Bank's Development Associate, Margaret Williamson