Food Drives | Hopelink Hopelink

Food Drives

 Food Drives

Organizing a Food Drive helps keep our shelves stocked throughout the year. It's also a great way to engage your community members around the issue of local hunger, while providing an incredible service to your neighbors!

To get started, email drives@hopelink.org.

  • Canned Meals
  • Canned Meat (Tuna, Chicken, etc)
  • Cereal/Oats
  • Beans (Dry or Canned)
  • Fruit (Canned, Fresh or Frozen)
  • Grains (Pasta, Rice, Quinoa, Barley, etc)
  • Nut Butters (Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, etc)
  • Soup and Broth
  • Vegetables (Canned, Fresh or Frozen)

    • Each center offers specific foods based on the cultures of the clients who attend and what the center is able to purchase through monetary donations.

  • Food (not expired, shelf stable, refrigerated, frozen, etc.)
  • Bulk items (rice, beans, etc.)
  • Paper products, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, diapers
  • Books

  • Expired, opened or damaged food
  • Meat that is not USDA grade (wild game)
  • Clothes/shoes/accessories (for any age)
  • Home goods (rugs, towels, napkins, etc.)
  • Appliances
  • Medicines
  • Alcohol

Ideas for Coordinating a Food Drive:

  • Ask a local grocery store for permission to hold a food drive outside on a busy day of the week (Saturdays and Sundays work especially well).
  • Arrange for volunteers to be at all entrances of the store handing out flyers of commonly needed foods (examples included in this document).
  • Hopelink will provide you with posters for increased visibility and effectiveness.
  • Have coin containers set up for the collection of money.
  • Prior to the event, arrange a way to transport the food from your event to a Hopelink center.
  • A food drive at your school can be an effective and fun way to generate donations.
  • Set up bins in all classrooms and large common areas to provide a constant reminder of the drive.
  • Award prizes for the group or class who collects the most food.