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:
- What dates do you want your Food Drive to occur?
- Do you want the Food Drive to have a theme, such as Help the Hungry ?
- Do you have containers to put food in or do you need some barrels from the Food Bank?
- Where are you going to place your containers to collect food (in each classroom, in the lunch room, in the office, etc.)
- How will you let people know about the Food Drive? (daily announcements, flyers, posters, newsletters, etc.)
- Will there be an incentive for participants?
- 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
All donations made to the Lowcountry Food Bank March 1st through April 30th will be included in consideration for a match from the Feinstein Foundation!
More Useful Information:
- 7 Easy Steps to a Successful Food Drive
- Making Your Food Drive Fun
- How a Food Drive Will Help Your Community
- The Do's and Don'ts of Donating Food
Food Drive Items that support the Lowcountry Food Bank's Nutrition Initiative
Protein Products
|
Fruits and Vegetables
|
Bread, Flour & Cereals
|
Snacks
|
Dried Herbs with no Salt
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
Dairy Products
|
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:
- What dates do you want your Food Drive to occur?
- Do you want the Food Drive to have a theme, such as Help the Hungry ?
- Do you have containers to put food in or do you need some barrels from the Food Bank?
- Where are you going to place your containers to collect food (in each classroom, in the lunch room, in the office, etc.)
- How will you let people know about the Food Drive? (daily announcements, flyers, posters, newsletters, etc.)
- Will there be an incentive for participants?
- 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
All donations made to the Lowcountry Food Bank March 1st through April 30th will be included in consideration for a match from the Feinstein Foundation!
More Useful Information:
- 7 Easy Steps to a Successful Food Drive
- Making Your Food Drive Fun
- How a Food Drive Will Help Your Community
- The Do's and Don'ts of Donating Food
Food Drive Items that support the Lowcountry Food Bank's Nutrition Initiative
Protein Products
|
Fruits and Vegetables
|
Bread, Flour & Cereals
|
Snacks
|
Dried Herbs with no Salt
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
Dairy Products
|
Children at Risk of Hunger in Every County
More than 1,000 counties in our nation have more than one in four children at risk of hunger. Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study shows that children struggle with hunger throughout our country. See what South Carolina's face of hunger looks like by learning more!!
Sunoco Fights Hunger
Find a Sunoco near you and help fight hunger! The Lowcountry Food Bank is honored to partner with Sunoco for their Caffeinate Charleston campaign. Visit one of their Sunoco APlus locations in our service area and purchase a cup of "Lowcountry Blend." By buying a cup, you will be giving a cup to the Lowcountry Food Bank!
TJ's Million Meal Mission
WEZL's very own TJ Phillips has set a goal to raise one million meals in 2013! A longtime supporter of the LCFB, TJ is a champion of our fight to end hunger in the lowcountry. Please read more about his challenge and see ways you can get involved!
