Food and Fund Drive Kit

Contents:
1. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
2. Food and Fund Drives: Where to Start!
3. Food and Fund Drive Checklist
4. Add Energy to Your Food and Fund Drives
5. Fun Ideas to Raise Food and Funds
6. Most-Wanted Foods List

For more information or to answer your questions please call:

269-488-2617

Why Both Food and Funds Matter

Food drives can help provide some of the healthiest and highest
quality food we receive.

Food donations also provide a direct connection between donors

and people who are hungry. Food drives are a great way for your team to
work together to help raise food for those that need it most.

Cash donations allow us to keep our freezers running and our

trucks running. They also support innovative programs. But most
importantly, cash donations allows us to take advantage of amazing
purchasing power (pennies on the pound) through our connection with
the Food Bank of South Central Michigan.

Every dollar we spend equals about $10.00 that you

would spend on the same food items – Through our
Grocery Pantry Program, $4 can feed one person for
4 days.
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 Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I drop off donated food?
Drop off food at the Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes (KLF) warehouse:
913 E. Alcott, Kalamazoo. Directions are available by calling 488-2617 or by
downloading a map from the Web. For a current list of other drop off sites,
check www.kzoolf.org.

Do you have containers to collect the food?

KLF can provide large (55-gallon, 3-feet high and 2-feet wide) barrels. Each
barrel holds 125 to 150 pounds of food.. To make it cost-effective for KLF to
deliver and pick up food-collection receptacles, your food-drive goal should be
at least 300 pounds. This amount of food will cover the costs of running our
trucks. A barrel will fit on the backseat of a car.

For really large drives, we can provide bins (4’x4’x4’) which will be delivered
and picked up. Realize, we will need to use a non-motorized pallet-jack, which
needs a hard, snow and ice free surface to maneuver the bin in and out of your
facility.

We also supply cardboard boxes in 3 different sizes for food drives that will be
less than 300 lbs.

Do you have promotional materials I can use?

Visit the Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes Web site by going to www.kzoolf.org.
Under How Can I Help?/Hold a Food Drive, you may download a generic pdf
version of our food collection flyer and other information to be used for your
food drive.

If you are unable to download flyers from the site, you may pick up generic
flyers at our warehouse.

Where do I send contributions?

Please make checks out to: Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, and send to:
913 E. Alcott Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Do I need to let KLF know that I am having a food drive?

Use the Food and Fund Drive Barrel Request Form to let us know what you
need. Otherwise, you may fill out a receipt when you drop off the food you
collect.

How does the food collected reach those in need?

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Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes distributes food collected through food drives to a
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network of 27 Grocery Pantry Partners throughout Kalamazoo County, three

seasonal mobile pantry sites, plus Ministry with Community and the YWCA
Domestic Assault Program.
Can I find out how much food my group collected?
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes will send you a formal receipt stating the weight of
the food your group collected. Be sure to give us the name of your organization
or group, a contact name, and address so that this receipt is received in a
timely manner.

Will I receive a receipt for monetary donations?

Anyone making a monetary donation will receive a thank-you receipt with the
amount of the donation. If you want a receipt for cash donations, please put the
cash in an envelope with the donor’s name, address and amount of donation on
the outside of the envelope.

Food and Fund Drives

Thank you for coordinating a food and fund drive to fight hunger in our
community. Here are the steps to a successful drive:

First, the basics…

 Decide who can help you organize the drive.
 Decide if you will raise food, money or both.
 Decide what type of drive you want to stage such as a party or a
competition. Then, set a goal.
o How many potential contributors do you have?
o How much can you reasonably expect to collect from each donor?
o Will you collect food, cash or both?
o For KLF to deliver and pick up food collection barrels, the goal of
the food drive needs to be at least 300 pounds. This amount of
food will cover the costs associated with running our trucks.

Important Note: KLF needs and encourages food drives of ALL

SIZES. For food drives generating fewer than 300 pounds, we
request that you use boxes to collect the food (more information
below) and that you deliver your donations to KLF between 9am
and 3pm Monday through Friday. KLF will do the best we can to
meet your requested delivery and pick up needs.

 Agree on the drive length. Will it be for one day? One week? We
recommend two to three weeks.
 Choose the drive’s location. Will it occur at one place or at several
locations?
 Decide on a collection method - boxes or barrels – it really depends on
your goal.
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When to use boxes: We encourage the use of boxes for any drive
generating fewer than 300 pounds of food. Copy paper boxes (or
smaller) work well for food drives. They aren't too heavy when full and
 you can decorate with wrapping or a Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes flyer.
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes can also supply boxes for you to use.
When to use KLF barrels:
KLF can provide large (55 gallon, 3 feet high and 2 feet wide) barrels and
hold 125-150 pounds of food.
Tip: Barrels hold more food if you remove food from grocery bags before
placing the food in the barrel.
KLF can deliver the barrels (2 or more) to your food drive site and pick
them up at the end of the event. To schedule food collection barrel
delivery or pickup, call Marvin King at 269-343-1616.
If your group can pick up empty barrels from our warehouse at the start
of your drive, that’s even better. Saving KLF the delivery trip is equivalent
to making an additional donation. Please call in advance if you plan to
pick up a barrel. Let us know as early as possible (at least two weeks in
advance) if you will need food picked up. Please note that during the
Christmas holiday season, our pickup schedule fills quickly.

Food and Fund Drive Checklist

Next, get everything ready…
If not customizing your own flyers for this drive, download KLF Flyers
from the KLF Web site OR pick them up at the warehouse.
Send out memos, phone messages, newsletters and emails to promote
the drive
Plan special theme days such as Meal Monday, Tuna Tuesday, etc.
Sponsor competitions between teams, classes or departments or plan a
special event to encourage giving.
Consider arranging a Hunger Awareness Day or picking a theme at the
start of or during your drive. If you would like to schedule a speaker to
come speak to your organization or group, please call Jennifer
Johnson, 488-2617 ext. 213.
Encourage participants to look at the KLF website, www.kzoolf.org.
Acquire and decorate barrels or boxes for food collection.
Place the barrels or boxes in convenient and visible areas. Arrange to
store them during the drive.

Then, during the drive

Update participants on the amount of food and funds you’ve collected
through a sign in a high traffic area, announcements in meetings and
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newsletters, or email.
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Send out creative messages to keep people excited about reaching the
goal.
Finally, when the drive is over
Deliver your food to the KLF receiving dock, located on the south side of
the building between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays. Or make
arrangements by calling Marvin at 269-343-1616 for additional options.
When you deliver the food, please fill out a receipt and indicate that you
collected the food through a food drive.
Share and celebrate the food drive results with all participants.
KLF will send you a letter listing the total amount of food and funds
raised during your event.
Write down your good ideas for your next drive!

Most-Wanted Foods
KLF needs these nutritious foods:
Protein (7 grams or higher) – canned meats, dry beans, hearty
soups, mac and cheese, beef stew, etc.
Fruits – canned, preferably w/o sugar or corn syrup added
100% Fruit Juice – canned or plastic
Vegetables – canned
Grains – pasta, rice, oatmeal
Perishables – please call Marvin (269-343-1616) in advance to discuss
current needs

Please Note…
To ensure recipients safety, KLF is unable to use:
Rusty, badly dented or unlabeled cans
Glass containers
Perishable items other than fruits or vegetables
Homemade items
Noncommercial canned or packaged items
Alcoholic beverages, mixes or soda
Open or used items
If you have any questions please call 269-488-2617.

Best of luck with your drive and thanks again for helping KLF meet its
mission:
To expand the availability of emergency food resources and promote the
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ability of hungry people to feed themselves