Set Dates
Determine the length of your drive. It can be two days or two months, but most drives last one to two weeks. Organize a team of volunteers at your organization, business, church or school. Contact the Pantry in advance of your drive so we will know and can help with collections and delivery if necessary.
Supply Suggestions for Your Drive
- Banners, Flyers, Posters - Any one or a combination of all of these announcements will work nicely. Make sure they are colorful and specifies the date(s) of the food drive and what kind of food can be donated (see our "food and other item" list below). Please include a statement that only non-perishable and non-expired food items are acceptable. Also, state that all food and donations will go directly to the Tewksbury Community Pantry.
- Collection Bins or Boxes - Anything will work such as barrels, bins, boxes that can be decorated with your drive theme and your banner, flyer or poster.
- Donation Envelopes - Provide donation envelops for those that prefer to make a monitory donation. The Tewksbury Community Pantry accepts checks and/or cash. Checks can be made out to the Tewksbury Community Pantry.
Have a Kick-off Event
Kick-off your drive with a great event to announce the drive dates. Remind participants that their enthusiasm around the drive is going to help feed those in Tewksbury who are in need of food assistance.
Celebrate
Celebrate your success by announcing your final results, such as the number of boxes, bins or barrels collected. Thank everyone for their participation and remind them that helping those in need can be a life changing experience for the giver as well as the recipient.
Drive Ideas
Local Corporations, Businesses, Organizations, Fire, Police, and Local Departments
• Create competitions between departments or groups to see who will collect the most food.
• Each department or group could have their own food containers and their own themes.
• Use number of items donated to determine the winner. Make sure the winners get a special prize for their winning donation!
• Have a “loose change” bin along side your food bin to collect loose change.
Schools
• Launch your drive by having your school conduct a short assembly on nutrition and hunger in your community. This is a great way for students to understand what hunger is all about.
• Have a food collection competition between classrooms or clubs and reward the winners who collect the most food with a gift.
• In addition to the food drive, you could hold a “penny war” between classes and clubs and donate the funds collected.
• Or as many school do, run a food drive during school sports or events.
Churches
• Have collection containers available outside the church so parishioners can drop of food items as they enter for services.
• If your congregation hosts bingo, consider advertising a food drive for a specific night of bingo.
• In addition to actual food drives, have youth groups host car washes, pancake breakfasts, bake sales, simple soup suppers or any other fundraising events to help those in our community in need.
Food Items |
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Other Items |
*All Canned Goods |
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*Dish & Laundry Soap |
*Peanut Butter, Jelly, Jam |
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*Soap, Shampoo, Disposable Razors |
*Cold & Hot Cereals, Pancake Mix |
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*Tissues, Napkins, Paper Towels |
*Pasta |
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*Toilet Tissue |
*Canned or Dry Milk |
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*Trash Bags |
*Coffee, Tea, Cocoa, Juices |
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*Foil & Plastic Bags |
*Flour, Sugar, Oil, Baking Mixes |
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*Paper Plates and Plastic Ware |
*Olives, Pickles, Sauces, Gravies |
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*Toothpaste |
*Sugar-Free Products |
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*Mayonnaise, Mustard, Ketchup, Relish |
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~~~~~~
There are not enough words to thank everyone who has helped and continues to help the Pantry. The Pantry could not survive without all the kindness, caring and generosity of the citizens, organizations, churches and businesses in and around the community.
Many have asked how the Pantry is doing and how they can help. Whether it is monetary, food and toiletry items, or volunteering, we appreciate and accept all assistance.
One day, perhaps, we will achieve success. Long-term of success for the Pantry will be achieved when no one needs our services any longer. In the short-term however, we continue to thank all of you who have helped in any way to feed those in need as long as the need exists.
"From what we get, we can make a living;
what we give, however, makes a life.”
Arthur Ashe
American Tennis Player, Activist
Tewksbury Community Pantry, Inc.
999 Whipple Road
Tewksbury, MA 01876