EOFO

We accept all non-bulk, non-perishable food items.  Our most-needed items include:

• Mac & Cheese
• Canned meats (tuna, chicken, or beef)
• Chili
• Spaghetti Os/Ravioli
• Condensed & ready to eat soups
• Canned fruits
• Helper meals (hamburger helper, rice a roni)
• Cereal
• Peanut Butter

Each group’s goal is unique and depends on the enthusiasm of those involved. We cannot provide supplies without a set goal. For example, determine how many pounds of food you think each employee will bring (for example, 5 cans), then multiply that by the number of employees.

Yes!

All of these items can be requested during the registration process:

• Collection Barrels
• Totes
• Money Shakers: a great collection device for collecting loose change and cash. You can bring it back to us full, and we will count the funds collected and report them to you.
• Food Drive Envelopes: these self-sealing envelopes give donors the ability to fill in credit card information or provide a check, covering up sensitive personal information.
• Promotional Posters: If you would like to customize and print your own food & fund drive poster, please let us know!

Food drive length depends on the type of group hosting the food drive. The following are some timeline tips:

• Neighborhood: a one-day food drive is often most successful, preferably with a gathering at a neighbor’s home to attract more donations.
• Office: one to two weeks is most successful in this setting. A definitive timeline gives your coworkers a chance to get into the spirit of donating.
• Religious/Community Organization: a one-day or two-week collection effort is ideal, depending on your desired promotion efforts. These food drives are most successful with internal promotion and perhaps a meeting or celebration to encourage donors. Two weeks provides those who may have forgotten a chance to still donate.
• Retail: a one-month collection effort is ideal so customers can bring cans in on their next visit.
• School: one to two weeks of collection effort is ideal for schools, as this gives each student time to get excited and pass the information on to their parents.

Consider the audience you are encouraging to donate and what would be the strongest motivation for them to participate. Here are a few ideas to increase your chances of success:

• Work hard to get top-level executives or leaders on board with your efforts.
• Select a coordinator or a coordinating committee to be in charge.
• Set a goal for the amount of food and/or funds to be donated.
• Include a Virtual Food Drive as part of your efforts. This secure and convenient online “shopping” experience is a great way to make it quick and easy for anyone to participate!
• Be specific about what types of food are best to donate 
• Encourage healthy competition–a little rivalry goes a long way!
• Provide regular reminders and progress reports regarding the food drive.
• Publicize the results of the food drive, acknowledging those most responsible for its success.
• Place decorated receptacles in highly-visible and high-traffic areas.
• If your food drive is associated with a business, request matching contributions of food or funds from your employer.
• Request a food donation as admission to a special event.
• Create internal publicity utilizing newsletters, memos, emails, bulletins, flyers, posters, payroll inserts, etc.
• Organize a food donation contest and offer prizes or incentives. For example, the winning team could receive dress-down days or movie passes.
• Create donated-food theme days like “Macaroni Mondays” or “Tuna Tuesdays.”
• Don’t forget the importance of communication. Willing participants often need more than one reminder to engage. Different people respond to different reminders¬—try to use verbal, visual and written reminders!
• Don’t underestimate the power of social media!

• Host a special event that also serves as a food & fund drive, e.g. the CEO’s birthday, company outing or anniversary, back-to-school night or a holiday party. Offer incentives for reaching the goal, such as a casual dress day, free lunch or pizza party. This can also be accomplished by providing “casual dress” or other coupons.

• Give a prize to the individual, group or department that donated the most food and/or funds. Have a drawing where a certain amount of food “buys” a ticket to enter. The prize could be dinner for two, a gas card or a gift certificate.

• Have a contest with a fun prize. If an aggressive goal is met, ask someone in a leadership role within your group or office to wear a funny outfit, be in a dunk tank, sing in front of coworkers or whatever best works for your group or office.

• Host a kick-off event to get your group excited to donate. Show a video about what MCUM does, or even volunteer onsite! Get a firsthand look at our operations and what is involved in providing food assistance in Monroe County. Volunteering is a great team-building experience and can serve as a great kick-off or reward for your food drive. 

• Single out an item: Select a most-needed food item (such as peanut butter or tuna) and give it a catchy title (i.e., Tuna Tower or Peeps for Peanut Butter). You can even create donated food theme days such as “Macaroni Mondays” or “Tuna Tuesdays.”

• Have a community event such as a bake sale, cake walk, BBQ dinner, car wash or multi-home yard sale to benefit Utah Food Bank.

• Create a friendly competition by challenging departments, floors in an office building, alumni groups of rival schools, high schools, etc. The winners could make the others wear their school colors, decorate their office or provide a service to the winning team.