Organize a Food/Fund Drive

Thank you for your interest in coordinating a food and/or fund drive. The instructions on this page are intended to offer simple and easy ways to help you plan your drive.

Why both Food and Funds matter

The items collected during Food Drives are some of the most nutritious foods received by the Food Bank.

Cash donations are highly valuable to the Food Bank. They help us to operate the innovative Food Recovery Initiative, maintain our food storage systems and provide support and assistance services to local agencies.

NeighborImpact makes efficient use of cash donations. 90% of your donation goes directly to program operation. Feel free to view NeighborImpact's Financial Statements and learn how NeighborImpact is an efficient steward of your donated funds.

New! Virtual Food Drive

Try our new Virtual Food Drive feature for a fun, interactive way to donate funds to the food program.

Want to hold your own Virtual Food Drive? Please e mail Sandy Klein, Development Specialist, sandyk@neighborimpact.org or call 541-548-2380 x 148.

Organizing a Food/Fund Drive- Where to start:

• Decide if you will raise food, money, or both.

• Decide on drive length. Will your drive be one day? One week?
(NeighborImpact's Food Bank recommends at least 2-3 weeks.)

• Consider arranging a Hunger Awareness Day for the kick-off of the drive.
(NeighborImpact's Food Bank has facts and information that may be helpful in educating people about the issue of hunger.)

• Will your drive be 'in-house' or open to the public?

• Will your drive be multi-sited and involve other groups?

• When are the best dates for your organization and/or your constituency?

• Do you have boxes, bins or buckets ready?

• Do you have a 'motivational' reason to drive the drive?

• How will you get the message out?

• Is your drive going to be 'newsworthy' enough that NeighborImpact should send out a press release?

• Do you have arrangements for transporting the food to our Redmond warehouse?

Ideas for raising food and funds:

• Payroll deductions (example: $15 per month/ $180 per year).

• Virtual Food Drive

• Hold bake sales.

• Hold taco, chili or spaghetti feeds, pizza parties, ice cream socials, potlucks, etc.

• Initiate a Book or Media sale.

• Invite family and friends to make a donation to NeighborImpact's Food Bank as a birthday, anniversary or holiday gift.

• Organize a craft bazaar.

• Start a recycling deposit can or bottle collection station.

• Hold a 'Recycled Treasure Sale' - "One person's junk is another person's treasure".

• Set up a booth or table at events such as local sports games, tournaments, or races.

• Hold a silent auction (especially for lager-ticket items donated by businesses or individuals).

• Place donation jars and food bins in common areas such as break rooms or near copiers or fax machines.

Increase Involvement in the Drive:

• Use the workplace email system to distribute a hunger fact for each day of the drive.

• Add a stuffer to paycheck envelopes with information about the drive and hunger issues.

• Create teams within the organization and have a contest to see who raises the most food and money for the drive.

Transportation of food to NeighborImpact's Food Bank

Food collected by individuals can be brought to NeighborImpact's warehouse in Redmond at:

2303 SW First Street, Building C between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday through Friday

In some cases NeighborImpact's Food Bank can pick up food from your location. We have limited resources for pickup, however we are happy to discuss options with you. Please contact NeighborImpact's Food Program Manager:

Steve Murray
(541) 548-2380 x.108
stevem@neighborimpact.org

Learn more about...

• Food Bank Partners

• NeighborIMpact Food Bank's Food Recovery Initiative

• Learn about NeighborImpact's Food Bank immediate & ongoing needs

• Laws benefiting and protecting food industry donors

• Oregon Donated Crops Tax Credit

• Read more in NeighborImpact's e-Newsletter NeighborNews