Frequently Asked Questions About Food/Fund Drives
How do I start a Food and/or Fund Drive?
Please complete the registration form located on our Food and Fund Drive page. You can choose to start a Food Drive, a Pet Food Drive, a Fund Drive, or all three! Once you have registered a Fund and/or Food 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/Fund Drive Coordinator Megan Pierce at mpierce@secondharvest.org or 704-805-1749.
Can Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina provide materials to help my drive?
Yes! The Food Bank is happy to provide posters and collection bins for physical food drives. We have two options for collection bins: permanent red barrels and collapsible, cardboard square bins. Both hold approximately 125 pounds of food (about 125 items). In order to receive these materials, please visit our Food and Fund Drive page and complete the registration form.
Supplies can be picked up from our Charlotte facility, located at 500-B Spratt Street, Charlotte, NC 28206. If you have a much larger drive and need assistance with delivery, please contact our Food/Fund Drive Coordinator Megan Pierce at mpierce@secondharvest.org or 704-805-1749.
Can I drop off food at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina?
Yes. Our Charlotte facility is open from Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 4:00pm to accept donations inside our Volunteer Entrance. Food can also be dropped off at our Back Gate Entrance Monday - Friday, 4:00pm - 5:00pm. Please enter through our back gate on the other side of the building and pull around to the loading docks. We also have three branch locations which are open on a limited schedule to receive donations. To get directions and hours of operation to the location nearest to you, please click here.
Can Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina pick up my collection?
We kindly ask that you drop off your collected food as part of your donation to us. Dropping off your food helps us maximize the value of your donation by keeping our trucks on the road picking up food from the food industry and distributing food to our neighbors in need.
If you have collected three or more barrels of non-perishable food (roughly 300 items) – or more than can fit in the back of a personal vehicle – we can schedule one of our trucks to collect your food donation. In order to schedule a pick up, click here to contact our Food/Fund Drive Coordinator Megan Pierce.
We thank you for your understanding and for helping the Food Bank use its resources most efficiently to serve our neighbors in need.
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!
Physical food donations are also welcomed! Click here for 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.
Can I donate by cash/check?
Absolutely! Cash and checks are wonderful, as we are able to put 7 pounds of food back into the community for every $1 we receive.
If you would like to donate cash or checks, please deliver or mail it to our Charlotte facility, located at 500-B Spratt Street, Charlotte, NC 28206. Please note, if you decide to send via mail, please be sure to note it is for your Fund/Food Drive or you can click here to contact our Food/Fund Drive Coordinator Megan Pierce to discuss one of our team members coming to you.
All checks should be made out to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina or SHMETROLINA.
Can I donate using a credit card?
Yes. 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!
You can also give us a call and we can take your donation over the phone.
Where do my donations go?
When you choose to host a Fund or Food Drive, you help secure the food and resources needed to feed our neighbors in need across 24 counties in North and South Carolina. Donated and purchased food is distributed to our 950 partner agencies, including soup kitchens, emergency pantries, homeless shelters, senior programs and low-income daycares.
Additionally, financial donations 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.
How do I get my tax donation receipt?
Individuals who donate online will receive an automated receipt via email. Individuals who send/ deliver monetary and physical donations to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina will receive a receipt by mail.
Receipts will be automatically sent to any individual that writes a check if the name and mailing address appear 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.
