Food drives are a great way to raise awareness about hunger in our community. Coordinating a food drive with your business, school, church or community organization can make a difference in the life of people who are hungry.   Themes could be created to help momentum with your food drive (and encourage others to not go to their pantry and pull out obscure or expired items.) Consider making the food drive Fun for those involved by using any of the following suggestions:

• “Food Fight” host a contest between teams to collect the most canned foods.
• “Meat & Greet” host a meeting & collect cans of tuna, chicken, spam & Vienna sausage
• “Wash Up” collect laundry detergent, dish soap, body wash, shampoos & toiletries.
• “Pajama Party” stocking our shelves with box cereals & breakfast items like Pop-tarts.
• “Pasta Please” providing pasta & sauces (preferred in plastic jars).
• “Soups On” collecting hearty soups for cold weather. Consider hosting a “Souper Heroes” drive.
• “Let’s Get Corny” host a gathering with corn-hole games & share corny jokes!
• “Veg Out” hosting canned vegetables (that our Senior Citizens love & crave!)
• “Taco’bout” (Love/Fun/Helping) and collect ingredients for a taco meal, including taco kits
• “Munchie Monday” collect snacks/items on a Monday
• “Paper For a Purpose” collecting frequently needed paper products food stamps do not cover like toilet paper, paper towels & boxed tissues.
• “We can DEPEND on YOU” and collect adult sized DEPENDS, needed by our Senior Citizens.
• “Snack Attack” is especially appreciated during spring break or the summer months when school-aged children are home– collecting microwave popcorn, chips, cookies, fruit snacks, crackers & granola bars.

The Co-Op can provide food barrels for food drives.

It is always recommended to connect with a Co-Op staff member to schedule a food drive and find out the current urgent needs (updated frequently under CURRENT NEEDS found on the home page of the website. For more information and to arrange details of the delivery & pick up of the food barrels & food items, contact Mary Warren at mwarren@ngcoop.org to help make your food drive a success!

To Boost your impact……Add an online Virtual Food Drive to your physical food drive. Supporters can select and pay for food items securely online via the Food Bank’s website. For every $1 donated, we can distribute 5 meals to those in need. Click here to sign up for interest in a food drive.