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Food Bank Support Idea.

by Brainster
7 replies
I am looking to set up a Food Bank charity in my local area.
I come from a family who has benefited from these types of charity's in the past and without them I wouldn't have been able to feed my children at a hard time where money was short due to me losing my job.

I would love to give to people this service that was once given to me. I want to set up a crowd funding of some sort or maybe another Idea that im asking you as warriors to recommend to myself.

I am aiming to take donations which I can then build food hampers up with my wife and deliver to people needing food in my local area. There are many many familys in the UK who cant afford to live on what they earn and are struggling to feed there children and get them what they need I.E Nappies etc etc.

And I would love to help them.

However my knowledge in this field is hampering my attempts to get this idea up and running.

I would really like if some warriors would come together with me on this idea, and maybe help me along the way.

Also any additional ideas or feedback would be great
#bank #food #idea #support
  • Profile picture of the author LegendaryGuy1
    Banned
    Usually, these campaigns can be promoted via websites like Kickstarter. People can donate money for your developing efforts and can reach out and help. Another way is to start a FB group. Just reach out to potential helpers and get the message seen. It'll spread like wildfire across your area and then you'll be able to gain donations.
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  • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
    Originally Posted by Brainster View Post

    I am looking to set up a Food Bank charity in my local area.
    I come from a family who has benefited from these types of charity's in the past and without them I wouldn't have been able to feed my children at a hard time where money was short due to me losing my job.

    I would love to give to people this service that was once given to me. I want to set up a crowd funding of some sort or maybe another Idea that im asking you as warriors to recommend to myself.

    I am aiming to take donations which I can then build food hampers up with my wife and deliver to people needing food in my local area. There are many many familys in the UK who cant afford to live on what they earn and are struggling to feed there children and get them what they need I.E Nappies etc etc.

    And I would love to help them.

    However my knowledge in this field is hampering my attempts to get this idea up and running.

    I would really like if some warriors would come together with me on this idea, and maybe help me along the way.

    Also any additional ideas or feedback would be great
    Say you go to Kickstarter for example...what exactly are you asking for?

    What will you DO with the donations received? Where will you store the food? Will you need refrigeration? Are there any food pantries or food banks already in your area? Who will you serve?

    I've worked with many food banks and food pantries, each one is different. You want to DELIVER the food, how? Do you have a vehicle? What is the area you are serving? How and who do you serve? What are the qualifications of them receiving your help?

    So, even though you want to do good, you need a PLAN, just like a business plan, with everything spelled out.

    Also, it has been my experience the poor people who get food from a pantry, get the worst possible kind of foods, full of carbs, sugar, salt and not much of the healthy fruit and vegetables. So, keep that in mind and put it into your plan.

    IF you deliver food, what sort of license will you need, some places in the US require all prepped food (even bologna sandwiches) be prepared in a certified and inspected kitchen. Not so much with delivering bread and cheese, but, the one thing you need to also consider is your liability, so insurance must be part of your operating plan too.

    Good luck,

    gjabiz
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Here are a few random ideas . . .

      1. Ask for donations from local businesses to support the needy. Cash is probably best, but you could also accept "in kind" products and services and then auction or raffle them off to turn them into cash.

      2. Before you use the cash you raise for direct food purchases, go to local businesses and see if they will match whatever you are able to raise - dollar for dollar. So you raise $1,000 - get a pledge from twenty local businesses to match your $1,000. You end up with $21,000 to spend.

      3. Go to the food distributors, restaurants, food manufacturers, grocery stores, etc and explain what you're doing and ask them to donate (on a continuing basis if possible) any items they might have that they can't sell. I'm not talking about rotten produce or bulging cans . . . but things like no label cans, crushed boxes, seconds, anything still of good quality but that can't be sold as new retail.

      4. "Take a Family to Dinner." I have seen this work in the past. Many restaurants will give a "buy one, get one free" discount on entrees and even whole meals in exchange for the exposure and goodwill that publicity about feeding the needy can bring. Advertise locally that families can feed a whole needy family simply by taking them out to dinner. The hosting family buys their own meal and the needy family gets the benefit of the discount offer without paying for it.

      5. Be sure to distribute press releases when you get a campaign going and have some success. The media love such "feel good" stories and it will likely lead to others stepping up to pitch in.

      Just a few thoughts.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Anne Laidlaw
    Take a look at The Trussell Trust | Home page | Foodbank | Bulgaria | Community Enterprise | Poverty | Charity and see they way they do it in the uk.
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  • Profile picture of the author Red Eagle
    Originally Posted by Brainster View Post

    I am looking to set up a Food Bank charity in my local area.

    I would love to give to people this service that was once given to me.

    And I would love to help them.

    However my knowledge in this field is hampering my attempts to get this idea up and running.

    I would really like if some warriors would come together with me on this idea, and maybe help me along the way.

    Also any additional ideas or feedback would be great

    Brainster, It's great that you want to give back, and maybe even pay it forward. Maybe it's a 'food bank' that you want to start, but maybe a 'food pantry' would be better, at least for now? There is a difference. Instead of moving forward with a big heart but lack of money, time, and knowledge, perhaps you could start by educating yourself all you can first, then move forward in your quest to help others, but from a position of knowledge and strength?

    You could visit http://operationfeedback.us because they have such a great business model. They're open one evening a week to help our vets, and one day a week to help everyone. But, they do NOT accept government assistance, although they do charge a $10 fee to help them buy equipment, etc. But they are able to supply approximately $100 worth of food to the needy for a $10 fee. Good food, too. I know some of the nicest people I've met love to volunteer there. Might be a great business model you can emulate or modify for use in the U.K..

    Best of luck to you and yours.
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  • Profile picture of the author Samuel Adams
    You could promote your crowd funding idea on local and regional radio shows. Just contact the local station and explain what you are doing and how it's for a humanitarian/good cause and you are likely to be asked in for an interview. Then you can get supporters for your cause as well as donations of food and other important things for your collection to distribute.
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  • Profile picture of the author Edward W Smith
    Don't forget to contact the local media to publicize your efforts, get volunteers, donations, etc. The more local you go, the better the results you will have. OK, good luck, Edward Smith.
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