Host A Food Drive

Each year, about 70% of the food we distribute is donated to us. While most comes from our larger business and nonprofit partners, an important amount comes from individuals in our community organizing a food drive for our benefit. This simple and generous act is very much appreciated.

With just a little planning on your part, food drives can be fun and very rewarding activities, and they contribute important variety to the food on our pantry shelves. We’re glad that you’re interested in holding a food drive for University District Food Bank and hope that these tips can help bring you success.

What type of food drive do you want to host?

Community Food Drive

A community food drive at a local grocery store can be a great team building exercise or group activity that will allow you the chance to engage with lots of folks in the neighborhood. Do a little positive promotion of your sports team or service group and give back to the community at the same time. Win-win. It requires a little more advanced planning since you have to arrange it with the grocery store ahead of time, but it can be a great way to spend the day.

Private Food Drive

A private food drive for an event (a birthday or anniversary party, for example), or one at your office, your school, or your church can be much less intensive and is a great way to show your support. Consider hosting a drive at any point in the year, gathering non-food items like socks, baby supplies or toiletries or focusing on our Packs for Kids Program.

In either case, we have supplies like donation barrels, posters and shopping lists to make sure your food drive is a success and to ensure that everyone who wants to give will know how to do so with maximum benefit. If you are interested in receiving a donation barrel to support your drive, please fill out the google form listed below. For further questions or specific food drive inquiries, please email Eric at eric@udistrictfoodbank.org.

Food drive barrel application (opens a new tab)

In either case, we have supplies like donation barrels, posters and shopping lists to make sure your food drive is a success and to ensure that everyone who wants to give will know how to do so with maximum benefit.

Food drive list starred