How do you do a food drive in a time of social distancing?
In the past, Utah Food Bank has received significant food donations from traditional food drives through community organizations, local businesses, churches, schools, and more. With large gatherings reduced, and so many of these services not happening right now, most food drives are also not happening right now. While we still readily accept donations of food, we know that – especially now with COVID-19 – it’s not always easy to collect canned goods and pantry staples from friends, family, and colleagues.
At the same time, there has been an increase in need, as many families are dealing with an extra-long summer with no school meals and the challenge of unexpected job loss. If you’re interested in Fighting Hunger Statewide and bringing hope to fellow Utahns facing food insecurity, a Virtual Food Drive is an excellent way to provide support while staying safe, as well as saving time and fuel.
Hosting a Virtual Food Drive saves you the hassle of moving heavy food drive boxes and allows Utah Food Bank to save on resources and get the most-needed items to hungry people. And when you raise cash instead of cans, we can use our remarkable buying power to stretch your donations further than you might think!
With no shopping, no lines, and no lifting, a Virtual Food Drive allows you to “shop” for our most-needed items, plus cover related transportation costs. You can donate as an individual or create a team, and get friends, coworkers, and family involved! Since you’re “shopping” from home, you can make an impact and help support your community, all without worrying about person-to-person contact.
Even if you can’t get together in person, a Virtual Food Drive is a fun way to come together and unite around a great cause. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and can easily be shared on social media. Families, businesses, church groups, alumni clubs, schools, soccer teams, fraternities, and weddings have all signed up as groups and created a little healthy competition to encourage donations. You can also sign up as an individual and challenge your friends and neighbors to match you.
You could even offer an incentive to participate, like one teen who offered to shave his head if his friends helped him reach his goal, which he blew out of the water! So get creative because the possibilities are unlimited!
Click here to get started now!
