Critique My New Food Bank Giving Plan

[Mouse]

Curious; does the pantry get any Government support for food donations? I volunteered at a pantry last year and they were waiting for the Government process to be set up. I think they received items like rice, beans, tuna, pnut butter, cheese etc. etc. I'm curious as to why all Food Pantries wouldn't do this? Also, another place I volunteered, I was told that some of the pantries work worth their local grocers to buy items as such in bulk and pay next to nothing for certain items; you may be able to do this for some of the items and then buy what's necessary after those purchases?

Just brainstorming.....

Macey

[TinaKlein]

Originally Posted by clovis

Wow!!! Thanks for the responses....and keep 'em coming!!!!!

I should clarify something: While I am happy to donate cash or products, I will be asking the FB to reimburse me on some items. I simply don't have an extra $100 a month, if it grows to that, to donate.

I have been donating my Q deals to those in need for many years, and know that it can nickel and dime you to death! I remember in the heighth of D-T Q's at Kroger's, one week I gave away a bunch of stuff to friends, family and donations that cost me $18 OOP, and the next week was $12 OOP, and $8.50 the week after that. It is funny that some friends and extended family love to get $10 razors and $4 english muffins, but laugh out loud when you ask for the 72 cents in tax you paid OOP. I remember giving two huge bags full of nice stuff to one gal, and she literally started laughing when I asked her for the $3.87 I had OOP. Wanna guess who gets nothing from me these days? (I must sound really cheap!)

The FB does have a decent budget for purchasing food stuffs. I am hoping to improve the quality they buy, and increase the quantity for those dollars spent.

oh I would definitely see what budget they have for you to use.

my 50.00 is my personal budget and choice. Like this month I have only spent 7.00 so far

Leaving the coupons is a basket for those to take is a great idea

Keep us updated how it all goes

[clovis]

Originally Posted by geanienut

I was reading this post and thought, you know if you brought in receipts with a breakdown of the total cost, Coupon savings, and OOP cost, she could actually see how much savings this could add up to be and that they will literally get at least 3 times the amount than they are getting now..I love to SEE the results, and that just may well get her in line with your idea.
Maybe have her break down the NEEDS, and give you a budget they are willing to spend and work within those pirameters. Ask her for volunteers and give you 6 months and see if it works. If not, scrap the idea.. Not ventured, nothing gained... Thanks for your hard work and service to the community..
Geanienut

Now that is a good idea!!!!! I am going to have to find some reciepts!!!

[clovis]

Originally Posted by Mouse

Curious; does the pantry get any Government support for food donations? I volunteered at a pantry last year and they were waiting for the Government process to be set up. I think they received items like rice, beans, tuna, pnut butter, cheese etc. etc. I'm curious as to why all Food Pantries wouldn't do this? Also, another place I volunteered, I was told that some of the pantries work worth their local grocers to buy items as such in bulk and pay next to nothing for certain items; you may be able to do this for some of the items and then buy what's necessary after those purchases?

Just brainstorming.....

Macey

I will have to ask about that. I am really new to the FB stuff, and was unaware that this was possible.

I know that the director has a very good set up right now. Much of what they buy comes from two agencies, if you will, that collect or buy bulk foods themselves, and resell it by the pound to the individual FB's. These organizations buy and accept for free food from manufacturers, processors and retailers.

For instance, last year, as I heard on the news, Kroger gave one of these agencies $15,000 in orange juice.

I am not wanting to change the way she runs the food bank in any way. She has built a program that is successful. I just want to be a help to her efforts, and help build back stock with good quality stuff at low prices.

Thanks for the heads up!

[vagabond2]

we don't use the govt program because of all the red tape involved and the stipulations that are added

[flmomof2]

My church partners with another church that runs a very active food-bank. They serve families 3x/week, and also provide food, clothing and toiletries to about 30 homeless during this time. I volunteer there, and coordinate an on-going food drive at my church. I have a white board in the entrance with a big bin (old toy chest) that I try to make eye-catching and change often so people will read it. We get a regular supply to donate this way.

Last meeting at the food bank, they asked me to do a short talk about how to get cheap food with coupons. I had a hand-out ready titled "Coupons = Free Food", and showed several examples on how I recently got 8 boxes of GM cereal for free (and donated it, of course). I also listed the main websites to get help and print the best coupons.

I know this doesn't exactly address your plan (which is fabulous, BTW), but maybe you can use these ideas.

[clovis]

Originally Posted by flmomof2

but maybe you can use these ideas.

Those are GREAT ideas!!!! You have given me about 6 other ideas that have spawned from yours!!!!

Thank you everyone, and keep the advice, comments, thoughts and criticism coming!!!!

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by vagabond2

we don't use the govt program because of all the red tape involved and the stipulations that are added

Hey Carol - thinking back now, I helped this particular Org on numerous occasions and clearly remember the 'rules' before they were granted the help. Can't say I don't blame your group for not wanting the 'extra work'

Have a great day - Macey

[vagabond2]

Originally Posted by Mouse

Hey Carol - thinking back now, I helped this particular Org on numerous occasions and clearly remember the 'rules' before they were granted the help. Can't say I don't blame your group for not wanting the 'extra work'

Have a great day - Macey

Macey,

In our case we are 1 x week and we set this up to serve the needs of our congregation. It was decided that the rules would change the dynamics of the FP into something we were not willing to handle.

There are 2 food pantries less than 8 miles from the church which do receive govt funding and they are part of the reason we are in place. Some of the food that members received there was rotting and/or wayyy outdated. We know this because this mission was started by our Bible study and the leader and his family made the trip to the food pantries for 1 month before telling us about it. That week the ball was put in place and we started a pantry at the church (meanwhile our family adopted the other family until we could put more help into place). Now as thing are close to expiration my husband removes them and they are taken downtown to the homeless shelter with the notification that these items are near their expiration date.

Also I don't think the govt regulations would quite approve of the storage room they put us into (I have to climb a ladder to enter so most of the clients served tell us what they need and we work around that.) The church is pressed for space, phase 2 has been put on hold, so we make do....

Anyways thats our how and why we began and why we run on privated donations.

[clovis]

The food bank I am hoping to help is run completely from private donations, and is geared toward helping the community.

What I find total amazing is that they always have enough food to help whoever shows up. They have been getting hammered. It reminds me of when Jesus fed 5,000 from a basket of fish.

FWIW, I am not part of the church that is doing this, but want to help out.