How to organise a Foodbank food donation

1. Contact Foodbank to ask them which food (or other items) they are most in need of and if there are any conditions attached to donating food.

2. Next, contact your local community to ask if they would be interested in donating food. It could be a flyer in the mailboxes of people in your street or if you want to spread the net further you could ask your surrounding streets or even use a social media platform such as Buy Nothing to ask for donations (just remember, the more food you are collecting – the more transport you’ll need to deliver the donation!).  

3. Include a list of foods that are needed and the rules about what can and cannot be donated.

4. Add dates that the donation box will be at the front of your house and when you will be taking the items to the food charity.  

5. You could also ask others in your community if they are willing to become a collection point.

6. Make it clear that the items don’t have to be popular brands and that supermarket ‘own brands’ are just as good. This makes everyone feel as though they can donate something, whatever their budget.  

7. Then, set up a collection box on your verandah or in your driveway. You could even use a small wheelie bin, so it will be easier to move.  

8. When the collection period is finished – box up the donations and take them to Foodbank.

9. Make sure you publicise your food drive's success by sharing how much food was collected. Thanking all those who helped with your event reminds everyone that this was a team effort.

They accept non-perishable items within their expiry date or within 6 months of the ‘best before’ date.

This includes:

• Long life milk
• Tea and coffee
• Pasta sauce
• Spreads & jams
• Canned veggies & soup
• Pasta & rice
• Oats & cereal
• Washing products
• Vegan items
• Canned fruit
• Canned tuna
• Baked beans
• Gluten free items
• Toilet paper

They cannot accept:

• Perishable food such as raw meat, fruit & vegetables
• Regulated products such as alcohol, tobacco, or drugs (such as painkillers)
• Product past its use by date
• Product more than 6 months past its best before date
• Product where the packaging seal has been broken
• Mouldy or rotting product
• Unlabelled products without an ingredient list

‘Use by’ or ‘best before dates’

• Foods labelled with a best before date are still safe to eat after this date if they are not damaged, deteriorated or perished. They may have lost some quality after this date.  
• Foods labelled with a use-by date must be either eaten or thrown away by that date.

 For more information go to:  Foodbank

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