11 Questions With A Food Drive Expert

In honor of this year's Tackle Hunger campaign, DoSomething.org sought the advice of Grant Winner Adam Lowy, who started an organization that tackles hunger in a big way.

1. Thanks for talking with us Adam. Can you tell us about your organization and how you thought of it?
Move For Hunger is a non-profit organization that works with moving companies across the country to strengthen the efforts of our communities’ food banks. As you are aware, many people throw out a good deal of “stuff” when they move. Unfortunately, a lot of this “stuff” is food that could be delivered to a family in need rather than thrown away. By teaming up with moving companies across the country, Move For Hunger is creating one of the nation’s largest, year-round food service programs. Our movers offer to pick up the unwanted, non-perishable food items during the moving process and deliver it to their local food banks. My family owns a moving company here in NJ. My great grandfather actually started it. My father started doing this on his moves locally about a year ago. When we saw how excited his customers were getting about giving back, we figured we’d try and get some other movers on board. I quit my job last July to focus on Move For Hunger full time. We now have 130 movers in 32 states working with us. In just one year, we’ve collected over 50,000 lbs. of food for food banks in need.
2. What is a challenge you typically run into when collecting food?
The biggest challenge for most people holding food drives is getting the food they’ve collected to the food bank. Transportation is often one of the food bank’s largest costs. Move For Hunger hopes to work with those setting up food drives during Tackle Hunger to utilize our network of movers who can pick up this food to deliver to the food banks.
3. You've volunteered to register your collection results with Tackle Hunger. Can you tell everyone how to report their collections?
Just go to DoSomething.org/TackleHunger to register your drive.
4. How much food are you expecting to collect for tackle hunger?
5,000 pounds.
5. What are the best ways to get people to hear about the fact that you are collecting food? What methods do you use?
Make fliers and send out emails. Facebook groups can also be effective. Also, contact the media and let them know your food drive is going on. Your local newspaper or radio station might be willing to help you get the word out!
6. What are the most common donations that food banks request?

• Canned fish/meat
• Powdered infant formulas
• Boxed meals: rice, pasta, potatoes
• Canned packaged meals: stews, soups, chili
• Peanut butter: plastic jars only
• Canned vegetables and fruit
• Hygiene products: soap, toothpaste, bandages, etc.

What are some products that can't be donated that people often think won't spoil?

Bread actually is one of those items that goes stale quickly. Not to say the food banks don’t accept bread, but donations with longer shelf lives are definitely better received.

What are some supplies you should always have when collecting food? Cardboard boxes? Plastic bins?

The best thing about food drives is that they’re easy to set up. All you need is a collection box and a flier. Remember with collection boxes that you’re going to have to move these donations when the drive is over. Unless you have the assistance of Move For Hunger’s professional moving partners, we recommend you put all of your donations in smaller boxes before trying to transport them to a food bank.

What are some ways a person can find a food bank near them?

Feeding America is a great resource for finding food banks in your area. You can visit www.feedingamerica.org and enter your zip code to find the closest one to you.

What happens when you deliver to food banks? How do they react to all that food?

The food banks have so much need right now. By setting up food drives, we have a great opportunity to help replenish their empty shelves quickly with large food deliveries. The food banks can then sort these food donations to distribute to the local pantries and families they service throughout the community.

What is one more piece of advice you would give to someone trying to run a food drive?

Get the word out! No one will participate in a food drive if they don’t know what’s happening. Fliers, press, and social media are the keys to a successful food drive.