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?

Containers
Place containers in central areas that are easily accessible. The Lowcountry Food Bank has barrels 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 us at (843) 747-8146.

Transportation of Food
Groups are encouraged to deliver boxes or barrels to the Lowcountry Food Bank. 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 let us know and we will pick it up by calling us at (843) 747-8146.

Useful Information:

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

Protein Products

  • Canned chicken in water
  • Canned salmon in water
  • Canned tuna in water
  • Canned sardines in water
  • Low-salt canned beans No-salt canned beans
  • Dried lentils & beans
  • Shelf stable soy milk

Fruits and Vegetables

  • Low-salt canned vegetables
  • No-salt canned vegetables
  • Low-sugar canned fruit
  • 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/reduced sugar cookies (any variety)
  • 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
  • Fat-free mayonnaise
  • Low fat mayonnaise
  • Mustards
  • Sugar free preserves/jellies
  • Caffeine free herbal teas
  • 100 % Natural peanut butter
  • Bottled lemon and/or lime juice
  • Flavored vinegars
  • Molasses
  • Low-fat salad dressings
  • No-fat salad dressings

 

Dairy Products

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