MANNA FoodBank : Food Drives

Food Drives

click here to conduct a virtual food drive and help feed people right away!

There are many ways in which you, as an individual, can directly participate in improving the lives of those facing hunger in Western North Carolina. The most direct way in which you can have an impact is by donating food. Create a habit of buying a few extra cans when you go to the grocery store. Keep a box by your front door where you deposit these extra cans and when the box is full, bring it on over to MANNA FoodBank.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A FOOD DRIVE, PLEASE LET US KNOW IN ADVANCE. WE ALSO ASK THAT IF LESS THAN 250 LBS OF FOOD IS COLLECTED, YOU MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BRING THE FOOD TO US. This amount of food will cover the costs associated with running our trucks. Please help MANNA FoodBank be a good steward of its resources. Saving us a trip to deliver or pick up barrels is equivalent to making an additional donation.

MANNAfest: Community Food Drives

In 2007, MANNA FoodBank’s Board of Directors and leadership committee designated “Community Food Drives” as a strategic priority in efforts to close the hunger gap. This food drive effort has been branded “MANNA fest“. Food banking started in the late 1960’s by recovering surplus and unmarketable product from the grocery and food industry. The food industry has become more efficient, spurring the need for food banks to diversify the ways in which they acquire food. These industry efficiencies have increased the “Hunger Gap” in Western North Carolina: the difference between how much food is needed and how much food is necessary to service that need.

MANNAfest began in October 2008 with the Student Food Drive. The effort continued in the winter with the Workplace Food Drive and is currently in the MEASURE OF FAITH phase engaging faith communities throughout Western North Carolina. The effort will continue this summer with the Neighborhood Food Drive.

MANNAfest combines the food drive efforts of students, workplaces, faith communities, and neighborhoods. This combination of MANNA FoodBank’s logistical and promotional resources maximizes the potential of many small food drives into 4 big food drives throughout the year. The dramatic increase in need over the last year required MANNA FoodBank to launch this initiative.

If you would like more information on how your faith community, school, workplace or neighborhood can participate in MANNAfest please contact Autumn McCarver at 828-299-3663 xt 245 or amccarver@feedingamerica.org. If you are any of these entities and you would like to do a food drive, please consider being part of something bigger and joining MANNAfest.

click here to conduct a virtual food drive and help feed people right away!

MOST NEEDED ITEMS IN A FOOD DRIVE:
Canned meats (beef, chicken, tuna)

Peanut butter (plastic jars only, please)

Dried/Canned Beans (pork & beans, pinto, kidney, black)

Hearty Soup (pop-top cans preferred)

Meals in a Box or Can (beef stew, chili, mac & cheese, hash)

Canned Fruits (fruit cocktail, raisins, apple sauce)

Canned Vegetables (green beans, carrots, corn)

Cereals and Grains (rice, pasta, cereal in a box or bag)

Fruit and Vegetable Juice (100% juice preferred)

Dry Milk (instant non-fat)

Backyard gardeners can plant an extra row for the hungry. Take your extra produce to MANNA. or call MANNA for the agencies in your town.

Ideas for Food Drives

Invite a volunteer or staff person from MANNA FoodBank to speak about hunger. Education is always a first good step.
Schedule a tour of MANNA FoodBank to visually bring home the nature of the work of food distribution.
Develop a food drive theme or slogan which relates to your organization.
Publicize the suggested foods list with flyers. Advertise the event at the local grocery store, in church bulletins and in community and corporate newsletters.
Use the theme to decorate boxes/barrels. Visually display the food that has been received so that others will be encouraged to contribute. Involve children and youth in this process, if possible.
Give prizes for creativity or for greatest amount of food collected.
Update people on the progress of the food drive through newsletters, announcements, memos, flyers or posters.
Designate a special day or time frame (week or month) on which to bring food.
Hold an event/meeting where admission is cans of food.
Provide people in the community, organization or church with grocery bags to fill and return with donated goods.
Have a car wash where the price of a wash is a food item.
Have the committee bring food collection to MANNA FoodBank and have a tour.
Formally close the food drive campaign with documented results and special thanks to all involved

Sponsoring Food Drives

If your business or organization is interested in sponsoring a food drive or event for MANNA FoodBank, please call 828-299-3663. These are just a few of the ideas and generosity offered by members of the WNC community. We thank you.

Food drives provide some of the healthiest and highest-quality food we receive. Food donations also provide a direct connection between donors and people who are hungry. Cash donations keep our freezers running and our trucks on the road. They also support innovative programs that address the root causes of hunger through advocacy and public education.