How To Start A Food Donation Center
- By Phoenix Delray
- Published 02/1/2012
- Food and Drink
- Unrated
Setting up a community food donation center is somewhat overwhelming but with persistence and determination it can be done. You will need the support of many volunteers and local businesses to start your food donation center, and will need to find ways to raise food donations and funding.
First of all, you need to insure there is an actual need for an outreach food pantry in your community. If there are some other food donation centers in close proximity then another one may not be needed. Investigate the existing food pantries in your community and find out if there are times or other areas they do not serve; maybe yours can fill in the gap. Develop a simple, compelling and sincere presentation about your vision, which can be presented in person or sent through the mail so you can find community partners. It is important you share the information you found out regarding the unmet needs in the community and be sure to give specific examples.
Find community volunteers and find a suitable location and structure. Your patrons may not be able to mount steps, so ground floor placement is necessary. Heating and air conditioning is vital. When you find a building for your food donation center, make sure
there is plenty of suitable dry storage as well as proper cold
storage.
Develop organizational policies such as days and operation hours then post your organizational policies in a place where your future patrons will see them. Also, send your hours and policies to other local community services so they will be able to direct people who might need your service to your pantry.
Develop a method for tracking who your patrons are. Keep records of their addresses, the number of people in their families and a Social Security number or driver's license number.
Stock your shelves before opening. You can solicit contributions from churches or other groups. As you receive the merchandise arrange it on your shelves just as the grocery store does. You should be able to see the entire inventory you have to choose from. Duplicates should sit behind one another. Dispose of food that is past its expiration date. Determine how much to pack a food package based on family size and how long it should last. Be sure each package includes enough nutrition for at least three days of breakfast, lunch and dinner for each person in the family. You may also include non-food items such as laundry and dishwashing detergents, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, shampoo and household cleaners. Pack these in a separate bag.
Send out progress reports on the food donation center to contributors so they know how their donations helped hungry people.
First of all, you need to insure there is an actual need for an outreach food pantry in your community. If there are some other food donation centers in close proximity then another one may not be needed. Investigate the existing food pantries in your community and find out if there are times or other areas they do not serve; maybe yours can fill in the gap. Develop a simple, compelling and sincere presentation about your vision, which can be presented in person or sent through the mail so you can find community partners. It is important you share the information you found out regarding the unmet needs in the community and be sure to give specific examples.
Find community volunteers and find a suitable location and structure. Your patrons may not be able to mount steps, so ground floor placement is necessary. Heating and air conditioning is vital. When you find a building for your food donation center, make sure
there is plenty of suitable dry storage as well as proper cold
Develop organizational policies such as days and operation hours then post your organizational policies in a place where your future patrons will see them. Also, send your hours and policies to other local community services so they will be able to direct people who might need your service to your pantry.
Develop a method for tracking who your patrons are. Keep records of their addresses, the number of people in their families and a Social Security number or driver's license number.
Stock your shelves before opening. You can solicit contributions from churches or other groups. As you receive the merchandise arrange it on your shelves just as the grocery store does. You should be able to see the entire inventory you have to choose from. Duplicates should sit behind one another. Dispose of food that is past its expiration date. Determine how much to pack a food package based on family size and how long it should last. Be sure each package includes enough nutrition for at least three days of breakfast, lunch and dinner for each person in the family. You may also include non-food items such as laundry and dishwashing detergents, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, shampoo and household cleaners. Pack these in a separate bag.
Send out progress reports on the food donation center to contributors so they know how their donations helped hungry people.
Phoenix Delray
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