Frequently Asked Questions About Food/Fund Drives
How do I start a Food and/or Fund Drive? Please visit the Food and Fund Drive page of our website to learn more about hosting a drive and how to get started. You will also find a downloadable Food and Fund Drive Coordinator's Manual that contains answers to the most commonly asked questions and additional resources to help you make the most out of your drive.
Once you have registered a Food and/or Fund Drive you will receive a confirmation email with details on our next steps.
If you have questions not answered by the information you receive, please contact our Food Drive Coordinator Lea Gaddy at lgaddy@SecondHarvest.org or 704-805-1756.
What items are most needed? Funds are our greatest need and a wonderful way to multiply your giving. In the big picture, we are able to provide 7 pounds of food into the community for every $1 donated! Funds help us keep refrigerated trucks on the road allowing us to pick-up and distribute fresh produce, dairy and meats to our partner agencies. We are also able to purchase products by the pallet - securing much needed items at great pricing. In short, funds result in critical and healthy foods reaching more people in need.
If you want to host a physical food drive that is welcomed too! Below is a link to a printable list of our most needed items. We do ask friends to avoid donating glass when possible to minimize the chance of it breaking and not being usable.
Click here to print a comprehensive list of the Most Needed Items.
Can the Food Bank provide materials to help my drive? Yes! The Food Bank is happy to help you set up an online Fund Drive as well as provide posters and collection bins for physical food drives. We are also happy to promote large community food drives via our website and feature them on our social networks.
If you would like to host an online Fund Drive please visit our website’s Food & Fund Drive page and click the START A FUND DRIVE button on the left side of your screen. Once registered you will have the ability to customize your personal or team fundraising page and share it via email and your social media accounts with a simple click of a button.
If you’re interested in hosting a physical Food Drive in conjunction with a Fund Drive please visit our website’s Food & Fund Drive page and download the Food & Fund Drive Coordinator's Manual and then submit your Food Drive Registration Form. PLEASE NOTE: We always appreciate it when a Food Drive host can arrange for the pickup of supplies and delivery of the completed drive back to us. We see this as another wonderful donation to our small transportation team. If this is not possible, we can also arrange for our team to come to you.
How should I handle cash, checks and credit card contributions? No donation is too big or small to make a difference. If you are collecting cash and checks at your location(s) there are several options for delivering them to the Food Bank. You can deliver them to the food bank along with the food collected, you can mail checks to Second Harvest’s Charlotte office with a note they are for your Food/Fund Drive or you can contact our Food Drive Coordinator Lea Gaddy at lgaddy@SecondHarvest.org or 704-805-1756 to discuss one of our team members coming to you.
All checks should be made out to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina or SHFBM. Receipts will be automatically sent to any individual that writes a check if the name and mailing address is on the check. In the event of cash, please forward the name and address of the cash donor(s) along with their donation if they would like a receipt.
If you'd like to offer your participants, near and far, the ability to make credit card donations, consider hosting an online FUND DRIVE. You can learn more by visiting our website’s Food and Fund Drive page for information on how to create a customized Fund Drive page. Online Fund Drives are easy and convenient for the host and donors!
Can the Food Bank pick up my collection? Please plan to deliver your collection to any of our branch locations if your drive is less than 3 barrels. We see your delivery as an extra special donation to our small transportation team. However, if you are not able to arrange a drop off, contact our Food Drive Coordinator Lea Gaddy at lgaddy@SecondHarvest.org or 704-805-1756 for more information on scheduling a pick-up.