A volunteer holding two cans of food in a pantry.
A volunteer with a food box at a packing facility.
Woman standing in front of boxes of food.

Host a food drive with Feeding America

Food insecurity impacts many people in our community. But together, we can make a powerful difference!

Food drives are a fantastic way to provide nutritious food to food banks and pantries. They also raise awareness about food insecurity and build a stronger community through collective action.

A volunteer holding two cans of food in a pantry.
A volunteer with a food box at a packing facility.
Woman standing in front of boxes of food.

Two kinds of food drive

Traditional food drive

A traditional food drive allows you to collect food donations. You can involve your family and friends as well as your workplace or other organizations to collect canned food or other items. This allows you to make an impact in the fight against hunger.

Traditional Food Drive Icon.

Virtual food drive

A virtual food drive collects online donations instead of food. The money becomes meals and other services for people facing hunger. Cash donations from virtual food drives help food banks purchase food and invest in their programs.

Start a virtual food drive ›

Virtual Food Drive Icon.
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How to organize a canned food drive

Food drives are a great way to connect with your community and bring people together. Here’s how to organize a successful food drive:

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Partner with your local food bank

Find your local food bank for guidance on what foods are needed most, donation procedures, and drop-off options.

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2. Choose your format and spread the word

Plan a one-day or multi-week food drive. Build excitement through social media and word of mouth.

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3. Collect and deliver your donations

Follow the drop-off or pick-up instructions provided by your partner food bank to make sure everything goes smoothly.

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4. Celebrate your success

Thank your donors for their generosity and demonstrate the impact of their efforts by showing how much food was collected.

Find a food drive near me

Frequently asked questions

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  • A food drive is a fundraiser where groups work together to collect food or funds for a food bank or food pantry.

  • Food drives help distribute more food to our neighbors.

  • Food banks offer two types of food drives: traditional and virtual. Traditional drives collect non-perishable foods, while virtual drives are online fundraisers to raise monetary donations.

  • Please only donate unexpired, unopened items in original packaging. If you wouldn’t share it with your family, please do not donate it to your local food bank.

  • Donors will receive an email receipt for virtual food drive donations. Receipts for individual food donations are not available.