How to Host a Food Drive: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hosting a food drive is a great way to give back to your community and help those in need. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you organize a successful food drive.

Step 1: You need to decide what population you want to serve, single moms, low-income neighborhoods, the elderly, assist a local rehab, orphanage, or foster care home; it’s limitless. What people group are you called to serve?

Step 2: Where will you get the food products to distribute?

We have listed a few ideas to get you thinking:

  • Connect with local schools, public and private
  • Church groups
  • Daycare centers
  • Businesses, etc

Ask them to join your efforts by collecting canned goods, personal hygiene items, baby items, or whatever you want to provide.

Step 3: Locate an adequate venue; ask owners to donate space and in return advertise their business on flyers and banners.

Note: keep in mind traffic flow before you close the deal!

Step 4: Sign up volunteers to help at the event! The more, the merrier!

Below is a list of volunteer positions you might want to fill:

  • Pre-event
  • Solicitors for donations-set a standard of what you’re asking for, for best distribution
  • Social Media Team
  • Before, during and after the event
  • Admin
  • Secure venue, organize event, banners, flyers, etc.
  • Advertising
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • What items can be pre-packaged and prepared ahead of time?
  • Event
  • Local Police
  • Team Leaders
  • Traffic Control
  • Distribution Lines
  • Post-Event
  • Cleanup
  • Recognition & Thank you