Harvest Hope Food Bank

Food Drive Tips

Plan Ahead

Select a representative to plan the strategy and theme. Determine your drive's length and end date.

Contact Us

Contact Harvest Hope to notify us of your food drive.

Set a Goal

Set a goal using pounds or items per person, and multiply this by your total head count to get your group's goal.

Promote Your Drive

Two weeks before the drive, hang posters, pass out flyers, send interoffice emails, or use payroll stuffers to get the word out. Information should include the dates of your drive, where to bring the food, and what types of food are needed. Contact Harvest Hope Food Bank for any posters or printed materials.

Build Awareness and Visibility

Arrange for a Harvest Hope speaker to come to your organization, or ask us for information on hunger to use in your newsletter. Promote the food drive on your marquee or outside signage.

Make It Fun & Simple to Participate

Be creative and use existing resources! Any type of sturdy box will work (ex: copier paper box). Boxes can be decorated to encourage participation. Place collection containers in convenient, high-traffic areas of your building.

Create Fun Competitions

Create categories - most pounds per department, largest individual donation, specific types of food/items (peanut butter, water bottles, plastic bags). Use themed competitions - "Carolina vs. Clemson," "First Floor vs. Second Floor," or "Men vs. Women" to get people in the spirit. Consider matching your employees' donations pound for pound. Think about rewarding participants with incentives: movie passes, gift certificates, parking spaces, free lunch, casual day, etc. Don't forget to update employees on the progress of the drive.