Food and fund drives are fun and positive team building experiences that can help your group feel more connected to the community. Each year, hundreds of local businesses, school and church groups, state agencies, individuals and many others sponsor fund and food drives that benefit the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula. Your efforts make an enormous difference in the amount and variety of foods we are able to distribute. Even a small team can make a big difference. Additional questions about food and fund drives may be answered by calling (757) 596-7188 emailing us at dtighe@nnfoodbank.org or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Most Requested Items:

Meats, Fish and Protein – canned tuna, ham or chicken, beef stew, chili, peanut butter, beans

Fruits and Vegetables – 100% fruit juice, canned fruits and vegetables, instant potatoes, fruit preserves

Complete Meals – pasta and sauce, boxed meals, hearty soups

Grains – cereal, rice

Hygiene Products – shampoo, deodorant, soap, diapers, toilet paper, toothpaste

Cleaning Supplies – laundry detergent, paper towels, kitchen and bathroom cleaners

Remember, with every dollar donated we can provide four meals in the community. No glass containers, perishable items or home canned foods, please!

Five Steps to a Successful Food Drive

Set a Goal

Set a goal for the amount of food and financial contributions to be raised. Setting a target allows you to build momentum. The goal can be based on the amount raised during the previous drive, or you can set a goal based on the number of participants. Sometimes your goal may be directly tied to a theme. For example, a local high school holds a Peanut Butter and Jelly Valentine’s Dance. To enter the festivities, boys bring a container of peanut butter and bring jelly! For purposes of comparing dollars to pounds, count each dollar donated as equaling five pounds of food.

Promote Your Food and Fund Drive

Share information throughout your community and/or organization to raise involvement early in the process. Publicize, publicize, publicize! Posters, flyers, e-mails, newsletter articles, payroll inserts, and public service announcements are all effective ways to let people know about your food drive. It’s helpful to provide a contact person within your organization who can answer questions.

Decide between Boxes or Barrels, Checks or Change

The Foodbank does not have boxes typically, but barrels with posters are available upon request. Small to medium-size boxes (copy-paper boxes) work well for food drives. We encourage you to use boxes for any drive generating fewer than 150 pounds of food. Here’s an illustration of how barrels can be utilized to help you set your goals and plan your food drive:

If you choose to hold a fund drive, you will need to decide how you are collecting the funds. You can collect leftover lunch change in a money box (the Foodbank can provide these as well) or have individuals write checks to the Foodbank. You can also convert money into a money order or check to present to the Foodbank.

Increasing Value

Increase the value of your donation by delivering your food drive items directly to the Foodbank. However, if you are unable to donate the transportation for your food drive, you can arrange to have the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula pick up your donation. Due to the demand for large donation pick-ups and other regularly scheduled operational trucking functions, your flexibility is needed and appreciated. Deliveries and pick-ups occur between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Please note that during the holiday season, our pickup schedule fills quickly.

Why Add Funds to Your Food Drive?

We encourage fund drives for individuals and organizations who are interested in the best way to help the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula fight hunger. For every dollar donated, the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula is able to distribute more than ten dollars worth of food to hunger-relief agencies. Monetary donations provide the greatest benefit to the hungry families, children and seniors in our community. Even if you are already committed to doing a food drive, consider the option of adding a fund drive. Many individuals would rather write a tax-deductable check than pick up extra food at the grocery store for a food drive. We encourage individuals to donate in a way that makes them the most comfortable, whether it’s food, funds, or some combination of those things.