Host a Community Drive
Help families homebound or struggling financially.
Join neighbors and peers in amplifying food and household donations to local food pantries by identifying high-demand items and creating a community drive food bag flyer using this free template.
Possible Recipients
Your local food pantry (where people in your community can access food donations if they need to). Find it by calling 2-1-1 (the human services hotline) if it’s available in your area. Or find your local food bank (where large donations are collected, downsized, and sent to local food pantries). They can direct you to your nearest food pantry.
Check what churches and schools are currently running food drives in your local community as well.
What You'll Need
A list of the most high-demand items requested by your food pantry
Instructions
Check the food pantry website to find most needed items and drop-off times.
Fill out our community drive food bag flyer template and email or text it to family and friends or drop it off with neighbors, asking them to let you know if they will be donating items on the date specified.
Determine your family giving budget and go to the store to purchase your items for donation.
At the date specified, drive around to pick up donations and drop all donations off at your specified location.
Reflections
Some families in need of food and household goods right now are feeling scared to leave home because they might be separated. How has someone else helped you before when you felt anxious or scared?
Why might a family need to get food and household supplies from a food pantry?
Have you ever felt hungry? What was that like?
What other things could our family do to help out?
Resources
Click the image to browse this growing list of big-hearted stories.
Visit our growing list of picture books that illuminate hunger, homelessness, and poverty.
Featured Story: Maddi's Fridge by Lois Brandt
This book is both a joyful story of friendship and an emotional tale of hidden need. Children will be inspired to learn more – and do more – about local issues of hunger after hearing Sofia’s desire to help her friend.
Take It Further
Research what foods might be needed by different cultural groups in your community. Scroll down this Flavors of the Community project from the Greater Twin Cities United Way to get an idea of food packs that might be familiar to a cultural group in your community. Make a special trip to a grocery store that specializes in those foods and add a few items to your donation.
Still looking?
Find more ways to share comfort and kindness with these unique projects.
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The recommendations we offer are based solely on our mission to empower parents to raise children who care and contribute.