NAVIGATING CHANGE | THINGS TO CONSIDER

Healthy Food Drive

Making changes in how a group works together can be complicated. It’s like solving a puzzle that needs careful planning. Here are some ways to prepare when you’re trying to bring changes to your pantry:

1 Ask your local pantry specifically for what they need

The best way is to contact the pantry directly to let them know you are interested in having a Food Drive. Ask them if they have certain healthy or culturally responsive food items that they would like to receive.

2 Gather healthy canned or shelf stable foods that the pantry can use

During your Food Drive, use signs and flyers with a Healthy Donation Checklist, this can help to make sure that the people who are donating food are well-informed about what is needed. Some common healthy food items are:

Days of operation (i.e. Opposite days from other pantries)
Hours of operation (optimal for Neighbors you are serving)
Access (i.e. Walk-in, By appointment, Call ahead, etc.)
Distribution (i.e. Prefilled bags, Choice pantry, etc.)
Physically accessible by all abilities
Cultural and Dietary accessibility
Preferences and Health considerations
Language accessibility

Days of operation (i.e. Opposite days from other pantries)
Hours of operation (optimal for Neighbors you are serving)
Access (i.e. Walk-in, By appointment, Call ahead, etc.)
Distribution (i.e. Prefilled bags, Choice pantry, etc.)
Physically accessible by all abilities
Cultural and Dietary accessibility
Preferences and Health considerations
Language accessibility

3 Check to see if the donations are useable for the pantry

Sift through and see if there are any foods that would be considered unacceptable to the pantry. You can save staff and volunteer time by being the first check. Look for very dented cans, torn or broken packaging, homemade items, or foods that need refrigeration.