Food Drives

There are many different ways to run a school or district wide food drive. Often schools/districts offer free admittance to a school sporting or cultural event to anyone who contributes a non-perishable food item. Other schools choose to create excitement with the students by using a theme over a designated period of time. Listed below are some creative themes which encourage donations of the items needed most by the food pantry:

Souper Bowl Food Drive:

Students donate dry soup, canned soup, crackers, and canned meals throughout January or around Super Bowl Sunday.

Multicultural Food Drive:

Many schools hold a “Multicultural Fair.”  Please consider “charging” guests an ethnic food item as their entrance fee or to reduce their entrance fee.  Suggested items would be pasta, spaghetti sauce, rice, beans, etc.  Or host food drives around certain cultures. Two very popular themes would be:

Cinco De Mayo Food Drive:

Hold this food drive in early May to collect foods celebrating the Mexican culture. Suggested items are rice, beans, and tomato products.

 

A Taste of Italy Food Drive:

Have a table set up in the school lobby with a checkered tablecloth, candles (unlit of course), and Italian themed place settings and decorations.  Ask the students to donate canned /jarred spaghetti sauce, pasta, and tomato products.

Do You Know The Muffin Man? Food Drive

This purpose of this food drive, which can be run any time, is to collect breakfast items such as muffin mix, boxed cereal, pancake or baking mix, syrup, and canned fruit.

Back to School Food Drive

This would be a wonderful September Food drive aimed at collecting the all-time favorite lunch box items: peanut butter and jelly.

 We Love You Mr. Potato Head! Food Drive

This food drive can be run any time to collect instant mashed potatoes for the food pantry.           

We would love to hear about any creative and successful drives that you sponsor.  The items listed below are the items that are most needed by the food pantry; however, any non-perishable items are greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or are interested in organizing one of these projects, please contact Norma Meehan, Pantry Supervisor, at 847-358-6700 Ext. 6110 or nmeehan@palatinetownship.com