How Do You Start A Food Bank?
• Find a place to store the food. The amount of donations you get may vary throughout the year, so find a place large enough to accommodate the intake. If you are an individual operation, you may be able to start by storing things in your basement or garage. • Contact organizations in your area that can help bring in food donations and can recommend people in need. Working with churches, schools, and local government agencies is a great place to start. • Notify other area food banks of your operation. Some banks may have food surpluses that you may be able to purchase. Some food banks do require you to pay for food while others do not. • Set up a schedule for when people or agencies will receive food from you. Some food banks may only disperse donations ever 2 weeks. You may also be able to work with these other agencies to offer your donations on the opposite weeks to help a larger portion of the community. • Collect donations. You may do this by holding food drives through schools an
