feed the need - feed your community, feed your mind. food drive kit

7/27/2019 Feed The Need - Feed Your Community, Feed Your Mind. Food Drive Kit

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Lutheran Community Services providesemergency food for people throughout ourcommunity, and we would like local schoolsto show their support by conducting a FoodDrive.

We are aware that high school students(grades 9-12) who volunteer in theircommunity gain a lot of benefits. Theybecome knowledgeable about what ishappening in their community andexperiences employment or collegeapplication.

LCS continues to experience an increasein clients seeking emergency food

assistance. (See 2012 Annual Report onpage 3 of this insert.) In order to meet this demand, LCS relies on donations from bothprivate and public sources as well as donations collected from Food Drives. We arealways looking for different venues to establish a Food Drive, especially ones that give

direct benefits to those during a FoodDrive.

Last year we did a pilot program withChristiana High School. The entireproject was done by the students. Wewent out to the school to give them

some startup tips but the students tookthe ball and ran with it! They collectedover 1800 items and clocked over 250volunteer hours over a three-weekperiod. The success and feedbackfrom the students made us all realize

this was a win-win for both LCS and Christiana High School. Yes, we stocked ourpantry; but we also realized that we were helping young people in several ways. Theywere learning skills that would be valuable to them throughout their adult life:

Skills: Planning, organizing, marketing, communicating, and being accountable.

Teamwork: Learning how to work in a team environment, whether they were the teamleader or team worker

Building volunteer hours: Every hour spent on the Food Drive, from the beginning tothe end, goes toward credit for graduation.


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Lutheran Community Services is a partner agency of Volunteer Delaware and the State

Office of Volunteerism which administers the Delaware Volunteer Credit Program and

certifies applicants for the Presidents Volunteer Service Awards.

As a partner, LCS staff has agreed to verify volunteer hours served by high school

students who are working toward earning the Delaware Volunteer Credit which also

includes receiving a certificate of appreciation signed by the Governor and the

Secretary of the Department of Education. More information about both the DVC

Program and the Presidents Volunteer Service Awards can be found atwww.volunteerdelaware.org by clicking on Resources in the blue horizontal bar or

Contact Us.

Thanks for serving and we look forward to working with you to achieve these

milestones.

Clare Garrison

Volunteer Services Coordinator

State Office of Volunteerism

Division of State Service Centers

Delaware Health and Social Services

www.volunteerdelaware.org


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We are reaching out to high schools in New Castle County and asking if they would bewilling to participate in a Food Drive. We are calling it "FEED THE NEED - Feed YourCommunity, Feed Your Mind. We will be happy to guide and offer advice to both theschool and students throughout the process. Our only stipulation is that once a studentsigns on, he or she must stay involved from beginning to end regardless of how many

hours they need towards finishing in order to receive their volunteer credit. This keepsthe entire group accountable and responsible for the projects they take on and notleaving their team mates left "holding the bag." In this case...a grocery bag.

I hope you will take the time to look over our Food Drive Kit and our blog post about theChristiana Food Drive. This may give you some ideas, or you can create your own. Wewould love to hear about them.

http://www.lcsvolunteersde.blogspot.com/2012/04/fill-that-bus.html

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. We look forward tohearing from you.

Sincerely,

Cher FramptonVolunteer Coordinator(302) 654-8886 ext [email protected]

2012 Annual Report to Congregations
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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ast year, the Lutheran Community Services (LCS) Emergency Food Program served more people

than ever before substantially more. In 2011, our food program served 69,369. In 2012, our food

program served 86,750. Thats an increase in food clients of 25 percent during 2012. Looking at

the figures for all services combined, LCS served a total of 83,812 during 2011. During 2012, the

total number served zoomed up to 102,715, and for the first time ever, LCS served over 100,000 people.

That is an increase of 18,903 or 23 percent in 2012. This growth is part of a long upward trend. The table

below illustrates how demand has grown at our three stationery pantries (Hope, St. Stephens and Zion)

in the last 15 years. Keep in mind that these figures represent only 3 of our 13 separate food distribution

sites.

Individuals Served at Hope, St. Stephens and Zion LCS Food Pantries (1998-2012)

In addition to meeting the burgeoning demand in a quantitative sense, LCS is also committed to

improving the quality of service, in all three core areas food, housing, and more. In the food area, we

concentrated on nutrition, handing out thousands of printed inserts dealing with nutrition on a budget

in 2012. We have also held well-attended nutritional seminars which is something that will continue in

2013. Also in 2013, we expect to continue our review of client choice options so that people have a

role in what foods they receive. In the housing area, we streamlined our procedures dramatically so that

while we helped about the same number of people in 2012 as the year before, we interviewed

substantially fewer, which saved time and effort for other tasks. We also enhanced our housing follow

up activities so that each client receives four follow-up contacts to assure that they are staying housed.

Our emphasis on financial literacy continued in 2012 with a goal of helping people prepare to deal with

future financial emergencies without jeopardizing their homes.

L


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LutheranCommunity

Services

FOODDRIVE

KIT

n following its mission"Sharing God's

Blessings by Helping Others in Need"

LCS is committed to making improvements

to the lives of its clients. In addition toemergency assistance, we provide nutrition

education and financial literacy help that we

hope will encourage long-term changes in

people's lives.

I


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Welcome

Lutheran Community Services (LCS) has been serving low-

income individuals and families in Wilmington and NewCastle County with emergency food, housing, and other

services since 1959. Originally founded to help senior citizenswith their independent living needs, LCS has evolved into a

multi-faceted social service agency with many different

programs and locations for people of all ages. In 2011,Lutheran Community Services serviced 83,812 individuals inDelaware, a 19% increase from 2010. For more information,

visit www.lcsde.org

LCS's Food Distribution Program has 13 food distribution

locations statewide including stationery and mobile pantries,fresh produce, and grocery clubs. Referral or pre-registrationis needed or required for many of the programs.

To stock the pantries, LCS purchases food from the Food Bank of Delaware, and relies on generousdonations from individual and private sources, and donations collected from Food Drives.

Volunteers Fulfill Lutheran Community Services and Community Needs

Simultaneously

Food Drive Volunteers fulfill very important needs for Lutheran Community Services and ourCommunity.

First, they collect much needed food resources for LCS's 13 food distribution locations.(See Foods We Can Use on page 16 for a list of foods to collect.)

Second, they tell LCS's story (marketing and outreach) to the Community.

Lastly, volunteers directly help the Community because the food resources they collectare directly donated back to Community to benefit individuals and families.

Why Help with a Food Drive?

First, demand for food is at all time high due to our current economy. According to theBureau of Labor Statistics, Delaware had an 8.2% unemployment rate in October, 2011.Factors like these have increased requests at the food pantries. Requests have grown

each year in the past few years and are expected to continue to climb.

Second, Lutheran Community Services is a big organization with 13 statewide fooddistribution locations and needs continuous resources to replenish the food inventories.

In 2012, they served 102,715 individuals.


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Third, because Lutheran Community Services does not have a dedicated Staff member torun Food Drives, volunteers fulfill this special role. LCS needs and relies on volunteers toassist Lutheran Community Services by running Food Drives to collect food resources

and donations for LCS food pantries.

The Role of the Food Drive Manager

The Food Drive Manager oversees all aspects of the Food Drive including acquiring the venue,overseeing the logistical details and delivering the food to the Lutheran Community Services Food

Pantry locations.

The Purpose of a Food Drive Kit

The Lutheran Community Service (LCS) Food Drive Event Kit is designed to help aid the Food

Drive Manager through the process of managing a Food Drive and ultimately build food pantryresources for Lutheran Community Services. LCS has 13 statewide food pantries and is in constant

need to stock their food pantries due to the overwhelming demand.

This kit is the event management process from start to finish and is owned by Lutheran Community

Services. A detailed, generic approach was taken because the kit will be used by many individualswith varying levels of event management experience. Some information may not be applicable toevery Food Drive. The sample documents are also located on the enclosed CD and are easy for

editing.

If you have comments, questions or suggestions, please contact Cher Frampton at the VolunteerCoordinators Office, (302) 654-8886, ext 107 or email at [email protected]. Thank you, in

advance, for managing a food drive on LCS's behalf. Your support will bring in much needed food

and help hundreds of your neighbors in our Community!


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Getting Started

Managing a Food Drive is a series of steps. Heres an overall look at whats required:

FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE

1.Find a partner or two to help. Add some FUN.

2.Acquiring a Venue.

3.Determining the Length of your Food Drive, and Considering Food Collection Times.

4.Marketing your Food Drive

5.Items needed for Your Food Drive

6.To Do After the Food Drive Ends

7.Wrap-up

Step 1: Find a Partner or two to help. Add some FUN

Carrying out the Food Drive is so much easier and more enjoyable with 2 or 3 people. For starters,

its safer at the collection site. And it's easier packing and sorting, and delivering the food to LCS.And when you are looking for a venue, you may receive a yes faster, if you are sharing the duties

with others. Note: is not a requirement, a Food Drive can be managed by 1 person but it is a littlemore difficult so it's recommended that 2 or more share the task.

Teamwork divides the task and mult iples the success.

~ Author Unknown

Step 2: Acquiring a Venue

1. Find a location (and receive permission, if necessary) where you can host a Food Drive.Take along a helper, you will more likely gain permission.

2. Select a safe location that you know well.

3. Places that are open to the public, busy and near other stores or businesses are good choices.

4. Grocery stores, churches, community centers, strip malls and areas near grocery stores are

also good places.

5. Consider asking an organization where you are member or a business/store where you shop.

6. When thinking about venues, take in account venue characteristics (Is there an area whereyou can set up the Food Drive table so that is out of the way for people traffic yet the tablecan be seen and accessed?)

7. If it's outside, you'll need to dress and prepare weather including anchoring signage for wind.


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WHEN ASKING FOR PERMISSION, PLEASE CONSIDER:

If you need to ask for permission, ask for the owner or manager in person. Introduce yourself as a

LCS volunteer and please be familiar with the LCS and its mission (see Appendix). Provide them a

LCS brochure. When appropriate, state how you know the business, organization or store you areasking. Tell them you are a managing a food drive for LCS and would like to host it at their site.Talk about the increasing need for food due to the demand and our current economy. Mention how

positive this would be for their store; they would be doing a service to the Community.

Sample Request: Hi, my name is Carolyn. I am a volunteer with Lutheran Community Services, a

local social service agency who provides emergency food, housing and other services to low-incomeindividuals and families in DE. I would like to host a food drive outside your business next Saturday

to benefit LCS. I shop here every week and thought of your store since its always busy and in agood location. I (and two other volunteers) will be managing the entire process and will work withyou on details. Because so many people are unemployed and the demand for food is at an all time

high. Everything we collect will be distributed at one of LCS's 13 food pantries. Your support will

help 100s of your neighbors in our Community. Is this possible, could we please have your support

to host a Food Drive at your Store?

If you do visit and the manager is not available, consider making a general call in advance to

ask when it would be a good time to visit the manager.

Assure the owner/manager that you will manage the entire process. Answer questions and

note question(s) you cannot answer. Follow-up with LCS for assistance with questions youcannot answer and be sure to follow-up to owner/manager.

When you are discussing the collection area, is it inside or outside? Ask if it is outside and

the weather is poor, can you reschedule the date?

A YES REPLY

Thank the owner/manager and confirm the details.

Follow their wishes when you design your food drive.

Discuss Food Drive collection times. Ask about their busiest times, that's the idea, to reachthe most people.

Discuss the location where you will set-up the collection table and bins.

Discuss poor weather, illness, emergency, etc. in case the Food Drive dates need to change.

Send a brief note of thanks including the details.

A NO REPLY

Thank them anyway. Leave contact information in the event they change their mind.


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Step 3: Determining the Length of Your Food Drive and Collection Times

Single Day Food Drives are the easiest.

However, two-day Drives, over a weekend or on a Fri & Sat, are fabulous opportunities to

collect an enormous amount of food because you can capture many people shopping for theweek.

Food Drive Collection Start and End Times

Consider the needs of the venue when you set your collection times but try to do what isconvenient for you too.

Ask the owner/manager for their busiest times so you can reach the most people.

Generally the start of the established business hours is the best timeto begin your Drive.

If you are doing multiple days: Four hour increments may be a good

stretch. Consider mixing your routine. You may want to do a morning oneday, an afternoon or a late afternoon on another day to reach the most folks.

For safety reasons, collecting after dark or late at night is notrecommended.

Consider your safety. Do not sit at a Food Drive collection site

alone. Have a least 1 or 2 other persons with you at all times. Keep a cell phone with you.Do not accept cash. Accept checks made payable to Lutheran Community Services.

Step 4: Marketing Your Food Drive

Create posters with specific details about your Food Drive (date, time and place) and post them at theCollection Site a few days before your Food Drive. See the Marketing Flyer in the Appendix.

Other suggestions to market your Food Drive:

Distribute the flyer at your church, local community center, stores, dentist, doctor,hairdresser, etc.

Email the flyer or the Food Drive details to your friends, family, coworkers, etc. Ask othersto distribute the flyer along to their friends, family, coworkers, etc.

Post the flyer on your local Craigslist Events Page.

Create a Facebook event on your Facebook page and invite your friends. Post where you are


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hosting the Food Drive location and include information about LCS, its Mission, the type offood you are collecting and the need for the donated food. Send reminders a few days andthe day before the Food Drive. On Food Drive day, post pictures of people donating food (or

of the donated food) and post comments while you are hosting your drive. this will

encourage participation. And ask those who are helping you to do the same on theirFacebook pages. Also ask everyone that donates to take a picture of your Food Drive andpost it to their Facebook page stating that LCS is having a Food Drive with the event details.

Have a big sign with the event details (date, time and place) in front of the table so they will

be included in Facebook pictures. See the Appendix.

Have a Twitter account with followers? Tweet about your event while its happening. Keep

it current and exciting to encourage support. Note: Facebook is more effective.


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Step 5: Items Needed for Your Food Drive

Lutheran Community Services has 2 chairs, a table, collection boxes and stats signs for you to use

at your collection site. To check them out from the LCS main office, please call 302-654-8886, ext107 and arrange for pick-up. The signs have statistics about LCSs services and are meant to

encourage support and food donation. Please display them at your Food Drive.

Step 6: To Do After the Food Drive Ends

At the end of your Food Drive, please check the food expiration dates on all collected items andthrow out all expired items. It's unlikely you will have expired items if your Food Drive was at astore but please check anyway. Then sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut

butter, canned fruits/veggies, pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous.Count up whats collected and make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, plastic containers or sturdy

bags.

Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 to coordinate delivery of donated

food and to return chairs, table and signs.

Step 7: Wrap-Up

Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is important

to the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go well? Did you

experience any problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process.Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.


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Hosting a Virtual Food Drive via FACEBOOK

Utilizing Social Media is an excellent and creative way to host a virtual Food Drive.

You could use your home or church for the location and send the event from your

Facebook account to your friends and family.

Facebook users..

Step 1: Create a Facebook Event and invite your Facebook friends. Set the Food Drive collection

dates and times. Think of times and days when you will reach the most people. Many people runerrands on weekend mornings so that may be a good time.

For example: Saturday and Sunday, November 12 & 13, 2012 between 11 am and 2 pm. Includeinformation about Lutheran Community Services, and its Mission, what you are collecting and the

need for food to meet the community needs.

Step 2: Send reminders about your Food Drive Event a few days before your Food Drive and on theday before. This will give people time to prepare.

Step 3: Marketing your Food Drive event:

During the day(s) of your Food Drive, to encourage participation:

Send reminders about the Food Drive date, time and location including what you arecollecting.

Photos of friends making donations or donated food.

Comments about Lutheran Community Services and its Mission.

Comments about Lutheran Community current statistics.

Comments regarding the need for food and how the donations would benefit the Community.

Step 4: Please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and throw out expired items.

Then try to sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits/veggies,pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous. Count up whats collected andmake note. Then pack-up food into boxes, plastic containers or sturdy bags.

Step 5: Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 to coordinate delivery ofdonated food.


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Step: 6: Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input isvery important to the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything gowell? Did you experience problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process.

Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.

Hosting a Food Drive at Your Work Site

This option offers clear advantages for the Food Drive Manager - the ability to reach many

people and the flexibility of a longer drive without having to sit at a table for collection thedonations.

It also offers the unique benefit for the Corporation, Company, Business or Organization hosting theFood Drive to perform positive community outreach; it's a great marketing and public relations

opportunity.

Step #1:Receive written permission from your Company. Initially, check with your immediateManager but ultimate permission will likely to be provided by Community Relations, Human

Resources or a similar department. Also check if your employer offers and Matching Donation

Program. If so, you may want to collect monetary donations so that your company will match what's

donated from the employees. If not, you can ask you company if they will make a contribution ordonation in addition to employee contributions. Checks made payable to Lutheran CommunityServices or LCS/

.

Step #2: If your company has multiple sites, its recommended the Food Drive Manager recruitassistance from other employee(s) at those sites to assist with the logistics.

Step #3: Set the dates and times for the Food Drive. Within an organization or business, 1 to 2

weeks is a good time period to collect food donations.

Step #4: Get collection containers for the Food Drive and label them Lutheran Community

Services Food Drive. Small, sturdy, shallow boxes like the boxes paper reams are delivered in,work well. Deliver the labeled boxes to the site(s) and set out in a common area open to allemployees.

Step #5: Marketing. Posters, group e-mails, and system-wide voice mails are great vehicles to reachall employees but depending on company policies there may be restrictions for each. Inquire aboutdisplaying posters and sending e-mails when you receive permission to host the Food Drive. Also, if

its a large company, there may be one individual responsible for sending groups e-mail or a system-

wide voice mail, or you may need to contact an individual to learn how send the group e-mail, etc.

Step #6: Please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and throw out expired items.

Then sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits/veggies,pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous. Count up whats collected and

make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, containers or sturdy bags.

Step #7: Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 to coordinate delivery ofdonated food.

Step #8: Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is


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important to the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go well?Did you experience any problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process.Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.

Creating a Food Drive Theme at Your Birthday Party, Special Occasion

Party, or Holiday Event

At your next party ask your guests to bring food to donate. Youll likely see that your family and

friends find the idea refreshing and generously contribute to the Food Drive.

For best results, make note of your intentions on the Party Invitation. State you are hosting a

Food Drive, list what type of food you are collecting, (see suggested food list on page 16) and thatthe drive benefits Lutheran Community Services. Include information about LCS, its mission, andwhy collecting food is

important and how it will benefit our neighbors in our Community.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Alternative and Creative Food Drives

Co- Host a Food Drive with a Business Organization

Because you are not the employee at the business, store or organization, your first step would be tocontact the Manager or Community Relations office to discuss a relationship and Food Drive. If

agreed, you would work with an employee at the business on all steps of the Food Drive. Follow

"FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE". This is an opportunity for Community Outreach for the

business.

Ask your Dentist or Doctor to Host a Food Drive in their Office

A busy doctor, dentist or orthodontist office would be a perfect place to host a food drive and

excellent place to reach many people. Although people would not arrive prepared with donations onthe day of their visit, they could return the day after or make a monetary donation to LCS* on the dayof their visit. Follow "FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE. Please accept checks only, made

payable to Lutheran Community Services. This is an opportunity for Community Outreach for thedoctor, dentist or orthodontist. Likely, they will use this as a Marketing and Public Relations

opportunity

Host a Food Drive at a Local School, College or University

Students like to participate in causes and may offer to volunteer for your Food Drive. Forpermission, begin with the Dean's Office. Follow "FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE" (pg.7)


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"Fill The Bag" Food Drive

Provide empty grocery bags to your family, friends, co-workers, doctor, hair dresser, dentist, fellow

church members and ask them to give them back to you filled within one to two weeks or a specifieddate. In the bag, provide your Food Drive flyer with the details about Lutheran Community Services,its mission, what type of food you are collecting, why collecting food is important and how it will

benefit our neighbors in our Community. Prior to providing the bag, contact everyone and ask if they

would participate in your Fill the Bag Food Drive. See the Sample Food Drive Flyer. You canmarket it making it a Facebook event and when you receive your donations, post photos andcomments.

Create a Theme for Your Collection items

o"Pack it in for Protein" Collect for peanut butter and tuna fish.

o"Bringing Up Baby" Collect diapers, formula and wipes.

o"Italian Night" Collect pasta and sauce.

Pass it onAfter you've completed your Food Drive, ask a family member or friendto host a Food Drive on behalf of Lutheran Community Services.

What to do with your donations.

The collected donations can be made to Lutheran Community Services in celebration or honor of theindividuals birthday, graduation, communion, bat mitzvah, etc.

After the party, please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and throw out expired

items. Then sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits/veggies,pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous. Count up whats collected and

make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, containers or sturdy bags.

Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 coordinate delivery of donated

food.

Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is important tothe process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go well? Did youexperience any problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process.

Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.

!!!


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Foods We Can Use

Canned Spaghetti/Ravioli Soups/Stews/Ramen Noodles

Canned Tuna/Salmon or Ham RiceCanned Chili/Pork & Beans Baby FoodSpaghetti Sauce/Tomato Sauce Peanut Butter

Canned Beans/Peas/Corn and Other Vegetables Pancake Mix

Dry Pasta/BeansBoxed Macaroni/Cheese Hamburger Helper/Tuna Helper

feed the need - feed your community, feed your mind. food drive kit

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