Food Drive Checklist
From box on a porch to city-wide campaign — you decide the scale.
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Page 1 of 3
Phase 1: Setup
Plan your drive, choose a recipient, and get the word out. Allow 1-2 weeks.
Decide the scale: porch box, school, workplace, church, or neighborhood
Contact your local food bank or pantry — ask what items they need most
Set a clear start date and end date (1-2 week collection window works best)
Choose a collection location: lobby, porch, breakroom, or church foyer
Get sturdy boxes or bins — label them clearly by category if possible
Create a "most needed items" wish list based on your recipient's needs
Write and share a sign: drive name, dates, location, what to donate
Post on Nextdoor, Facebook, and community boards
Recruit 2-5 volunteers for sorting, transport, and promotion
If school/workplace: set up a friendly competition between groups
Contact local businesses about co-promoting or hosting satellite bins
Print flyers (Canva has free food drive templates)
freshfoodnetwork.orgYou can do this.
Food Drive Checklist
From box on a porch to city-wide campaign — you decide the scale.
2
Page 2 of 3
Phase 2: Execute
Run the drive, keep momentum up, and sort donations.
Place bins in high-traffic, visible locations with clear signage
Check bins daily — consolidate and move full boxes to storage
Post progress updates on social media with photos (creates momentum)
Remind participants mid-drive: email, announcement, or door-to-door
Apply the golden rule to every donation: "Would I eat this myself?"
Remove any expired, opened, or damaged items immediately
Sort into categories: proteins, grains, canned veg/fruit, snacks, non-food
Keep non-food items separate: hygiene, baby supplies, pet food
Remove any glass containers (breakage risk during transport)
Store donations in a cool, dry place off the ground
Track total weight or item count for your impact report
Thank donors publicly — tag on social media, thank-you signs on bins
freshfoodnetwork.orgYou can do this.
Food Drive Checklist
From box on a porch to city-wide campaign — you decide the scale.
3
Page 3 of 3
Phase 3: Finalize
Deliver, celebrate, and set up for next time.
Do a final sort: double-check all expiration dates and packaging integrity
Weigh or count final totals for your impact report
Coordinate delivery with your food bank/pantry (call ahead)
Load securely — stack boxes so nothing shifts during transport
Deliver within 1-2 days of collection end (don't store long)
Take a photo at delivery — share the impact with participants
Send a thank-you message to all volunteers and donors with final numbers
Share results on social media: pounds collected, meals provided, families served
Ask your food bank recipient for a tax receipt if applicable
Debrief with your team: what worked, what to improve next time
Consider making it recurring — monthly drives (like PORCH model) have the most impact
Register your food drive on freshfoodnetwork.org so others can find drop-off points
freshfoodnetwork.orgYou can do this.