End Hunger. Start Here. Food Pantry of Waukesha County

Food Drives

FOOD DRIVE TOOLS

Although Waukesha County is the most affluent county in Wisconsin, startling numbers reflect the high poverty levels of community members in need of assistance year-round. These community members are our neighbors, classmates, co-workers and friends.

Take your next step in the right direction - to end hunger - by hosting a food drive. Start here by downloading fliers for your own food drive. The fliers are downloadable as 8.5"x11" or 11"x17" and as color or black-and-white, to accommodate your printing capabilities.

THEMED DRIVES

Food drives serve an important role that help stock the shelves of the Food Pantry. Since the Food Pantry offers those in need with more than food, we also encourage volunteers to host themed drives, such as a diaper drive or a birthday party drive, to provide clients with needs other than food.

Holiday Meal Drive items needed: Frozen turkeys (or chickens for smaller sized households), mashed potato buds, stuffing, potato and rice side dishes, gravy (cans, jars or mixes), canned vegetables of all kinds, dessert item mixes, cornmeal muffins mixes, baking goods of any kind (flour, brown sugar, white sugar, shortening, vegetable oil, baking powder, baking soda, chocolate chips) and spices. Deliver food items for Holiday Meal distribution which begins November 13th and continues until December 23rd. Call ahead (262.542.5300) for large donations requiring freezer space. (insert link to donation hours)

Single Food Item Drive:

Focus on one item for your drive such as canned meals with meat, macaroni & cheese or cereal. Participants find this method easy and may pick up the item when it is on sale. Create an ongoing drive where a different food item is collected each month. For one month jars of peanut butter is collected, while cans of tuna are collected for the next month, and so on.

Diaper drive:
Many of our clients have very small children and need diapers, which food stamps do not cover. Volunteers have hosted diaper drives, collecting diapers, baby wipes and other small-child needs, which have gathered many of these much-needed items.

Birthday party drive:
We’ve heard countless stories from our clients who have been unable to afford even a small birthday celebration for their children. You can help by hosting a birthday party drive, collecting cake batter mix, frosting and sprinkles, birthday napkins, party favors and other items to help a family celebrate a child’s birthday.

Other ideas include a favorite recipe (with necessary ingredients) drive, personal hygiene drives and more. We always welcome new ideas and are continually impressed with the ideas our volunteers come up with!

Download the flier on the right and fill in the name of your themed drive and other important details to help promote your drive!

OTHER HELPFUL TIPS

Individuals

Coordinate a food drive at your congregation, child’s school, workplace, or with your social or community group
Volunteer to pick up donated food barrels and deliver to the Food Pantry
Plant an extra row in your garden to give clients fresh vegetables

Corporations

Promote payroll-deduction contributions
Make a financial contribution. Challenge employees to raise the same amount through bake sales, car washes and competitions
Sponsor an event at your company, for example:
Dress-down days with participants making a monetary or food donation
Food of the Month drives (January - Peanut Butter, February - Tuna, etc.)
Provide matching funds to individual employee’s financial donations
Purchase or donate items needed at the pantry (i.e., computer software and warehouse equipment)
Sponsor all or part of a Food Pantry fund-raising event
Donate in-kind gifts to decrease our operating costs (e.g., printing or copying services, computer/technical support, etc.)

If you have any questions or require any type of assistance in coordination a food or fund raising event, contact Michael Jonas, Associate Director at 262-542-5300 or Michael.wfp@tds.net .

Please Plan to Deliver Donated Food Items

Not unlike your home, resources are tight here at The Food Pantry. We do not have paid staff drivers, a fleet of vehicles or significant fuel budgets to complete pick ups so it is best for you to deliver your donation directly to The Food Pantry in downtown Waukesha. Click here for delivery hours and a map. Yes, we realize we are asking you to do so after you’ve been thoughtful enough to conduct a food drive, but we hope that you’ll understand and take this extra step. Volunteers already complete pickups to weekly contributors such as grocery stores, food producers, caterers and restaurants. In special cases of large donations (in excess of several thousands pounds) we will try to accommodate the sponsor organization with a food pick up. But please understand that our ability to do so will be dependent on the availability of volunteers and vehicles. Thank you for your cooperation.

Notice to Drive
Coordinators