CommUnity can’t help food-insecure families without your donations. Food drives of all sizes help keep our shelves full. Use these tips to get the most out of your efforts. Once your plans are set, please register your event using our online form.
Food drive theme months
- February: Spread the Love, peanut butter and jelly drive
- April: CommUnity Baby Shower, baby food & products drive
- Food, formula, diapers, wipes, unopened bottles accepted (please no baby clothes, furniture, or accessories)
- July: Strike Out Hunger Summer Food Drive
- October: TP CommUnity
- Toilet paper and other paper products (feminine hygiene products, paper towels, paper plates, etc.) accepted
- December: Project Holiday
- Canned, shelf-stable goods
Make your food drive plan
Time: Some food drives collect donations over a few weeks, while others happen on a single day. Two weeks is a good time span for a food drive in your office or school.
Location: Pick a visible and accessible spot to collect donations. A school library, office break room, or church lobby are all good examples. To reach the broader community, a public space like a local grocery store or somewhere on the University of Iowa campus often works well.
Drop-off: Please make plans to deliver your donations to 1045 Hwy 6 East during Food Bank hours. Let us know when you’re coming in the form below and we can arrange to meet you and snap a photo of you and your donations.
Ideas for an extra edge
Special events: Partnering with an event that’s already planned is a good way to reach more people.
Make it a contest: Organizing a food drive competition between different classes or office departments can be fun and productive.
Company support: Ask your manager about whether your company can make a donation or offer perks to employees who get involved.
Find a niche: People respond better to food drives for specific items. Our most needed items are peanut butter, diapers, toilet paper, and hearty soups. Also consider one of our theme months.
Here are ways CommUnity
can support your food drive:
Media relations: CommUnity can let local news organizations know about your event.
Online: We’ll use our website and social media pages to let others know how to help.
Helpful items: Let us know a couple weeks before your food drive and we’ll lend you donation barrels and a lockbox for monetary donations.
A friendly face: Let us know about your event a month in advance using the form below and we can often send a staffer to meet with supporters and talk about the organization. Due to limited staff resources, CommUnity cannot pick up donations or participate in every event.
