March Food Drive Campaign

For 28 years, Minnesota FoodShare has coordinated the largestfood and fund drive in the state. Annually, the March Campaign accounts for more than half the food distributed through foodshelves each year in Minnesota.

Despite the efforts, the need continues to grow. In 2009, visits to Minnesota food shelves increased more than 25 percent. More than one million Minnesotans live in households struggling to put food on the table. So this year,Minnesota FoodShare has set a record-setting goal-to raise 12 million pounds and dollars. Last year, the goal was surpassed, but it took a lot of hard work from thousands of volunteers from around the state. This year, extra help will be needed to reach the ambitious 2010 goal.

Be a Superhero in the Minnesota fight against hunger. Everybody can do it. Whether a neighborhood group or major corporation, elementary school homeroom or faith community, the only superpowers required are the will to make a difference and the motivation to help.

• Organize food and fund drives for your local food shelf during March.
• Tell your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers about the March Campaign
•  Donate to Minnesota FoodShare. Every Dollar contributed to the March Campaign will go to Minnesota food shelves to purchase food. And remember, cash increases the purchasing power of each food shelf.

Everything you need to organize your campaign is available on the March Campaign website: mnfoodshare.gmcc.org or call 1-888-315-7390.

Minnesota Foodshare is a program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. Corporate
sponsors include: WCCO Radio, Medtronic, Target, Old Home, Timberwolves, US Bank.

Creative Ideas for Food and Cash Drives:
Civic Groups and Schools
School Food Drives

• Have a competition between classrooms.  The winning classroom has a party or a special treat.
• Give awards for most overall donations, and most "special items," such as peanut butter, toilet paper, tuna fish, etc.  Check with your local food shelf to find out what they need.
• Sponsor a "Minnesota FoodShare Poster Contest:"  students draw posters to encourage food donations.  Posters can be placed in local businesses.
• Provide lapel-sized green ribbons for students and teachers to wear throughout the month.  Create large green ribbons to place on visible doors to serve as a reminder that the Campaign is on, and to bring their donation.
• Use helium-filled FoodShare balloons to decorate the food collection area.
• Competing High Schools:  hold a "Food Bowl Challenge" to raise food for the food shelf.  Leading up to a sporting event where the two schools are competing (when rivalries are at their peak), organize a food drive.  Announce which shool collected the most food at the game.
• When students meet a food collection goal, the principal or another high-profile teacher or coach can perform a stunt such as kissing a pig, shaving face or head, dressing like Elvis, etc.  This works wonders - some schools have even gotten on local television news!
• Collect food as admission to a school sporting event, musical event, play or school dance.  Civic Group Food Drives
• Organize a "Shopping Cart Race" between the police chief and sheriff (or other local leaders).  Contestants race through the grocery store to fill cats with food items for the food shelf.  The cart with the most food in the allotted time wins.  Businesses  or civic groups "back" one participant or the other, and pay for the cart of groceries.

 

---

155 ~ OAKDALE STREET OWATONNA, MN  55060 (507) 455-2991

A primary sponsor