Our Food Drive Partners
Needed Food Items (and Non-Food items too!)
Canned vegetables & fruits
Canned and boxed meals (soup, chili, stew, macaroni & cheese)
Canned beans and peas (black, pinto, lentils)
Rice, Pasta and Pasta Sauce
Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise)
Spices and cooking supplies
Low sugar cereals, oatmeal and breakfast bars
Peanut butter
Low sugar cookies, snacks and school lunch items
Holiday foods (cranberry sauce, dry stuffing mix, cake mixes & frosting, etc.)
Instant mixes like potatoes, gravies and sauces
Canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon) that do not require refrigeration before opening
100% fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed)
Pet Food and Supplies
Shampoo, Conditioner, Body wash
Hand Sanitizer, Deodorant
Sun Block, Lotion
Razors for men and women
Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Mouthwash
Toilet paper, Paper towels
Laundry detergent
Cleaning Supplies, Light bulbs, Air freshener
Food drives are extremely valuable
to us and the people we serve
Our Food Retailers make generous donations to us, but certain important foods are often in short supply. You can help fill that gap and make a difference in the lives of hungry people. Your efforts to organize and conduct a food drive will provide nutritious, high-quality food for your neighbors in need. The following step-by-step instructions will tell you everything you need to know about hosting a successful food drive.
Download a poster for your event.
Let's get started!
Step 1: DESIGNATE A COORDINATOR
This person (very possibly you!) will be responsible for communication with the South Jersey Dream Center, promoting the food drive, and coordinating the actual collection. You may want to have several people act as a committee, but there should only be one person in contact with us.
STEP 2: ASK FOR SUPPORT
Make sure your school, church, office, or organization top management has endorsed your food drive and will do everything they can to help you organize, promote, and run it.
STEP 3: CHOOSE YOUR DATES
Holidays are typically the time when most people lend a helping hand, but food drives can be conducted any time of the year. Hunger doesn't take a holiday! The perfect time for your food drive is NOW. Select a start date that gives you plenty of time for planning and organization.
STEP 4: REGISTER YOUR FOOD DRIVE
Registration your food drive using the form at the bottom of this page.
STEP 5: PLAN YOUR COLLECTION
Choose a high traffic area for your collection containers. Have a contest between departments or group members to see who can collect the most pounds of food. Earn a dress down day if you bring a canned good to work on Friday.
STEP 6: SET A GOAL!
People like to shoot for a goal. Determine how many items you hope to collect. Don't be afraid to think big!
STEP 7: SPREAD THE WORD!
Promote your food drive by hanging posters, distributing flyers, and making announcements at meetings. Put notices in your local newsletter, bulletin, or other publications. Put collection boxes out early, and decorate containers to draw attention to them. Include your goal in all your publicity material. Spreading the word is essential to your food drive s success.
STEP 8: COLLECT THE FOOD
As food donations come in, check your collection areas for overflow and box items as you go. Continue promoting your food drive throughout the collection period.
STEP 9: DELIVER THE FOOD
If you drop off the food yourself, you save us time, money, and resources. Simply indicate on the form below that you would like to deliver the food the Dream Center.
