After the holiday season passes, many local food pantry supplies run low. By Spring, the once well-stocked shelves are in need of replenishing. Knowing these needs continue all year, Grafton County 4-H is again joining the Rumney Farmers 4-H Club in challenging clubs, families, and members around the county to take part in a Food and Essentials Collection Project. This enhanced food drive is a three-month effort, from January 1 through March 31, which provides essentials to community members in need. Last year, over 2100 items were distributed to nine organizations around the region. Grafton County 4-H is excited to champion this effort again and continue to support our local communities through this friendly competition.
Here is how it works:
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Identify an organization who can benefit from a donation.
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Contact local food shelves and food pantries, etc. (Ask your 4-H club leader or the county 4-H office if you need suggestions.)
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Ask if there are specific items lacking this year or if there is an unusually high demand for a certain type of product.
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Find out when and where donations can be made and the best way to complete the drop-off.
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Collect food and essentials.
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Look through your cupboards for items to donate. Be sure they are new, unused, in good condition, and haven’t expired.
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Challenge those around you to help collect food and essentials. Examples: Invite neighbors to leave a canned good or box of tissues on your porch for donation. Ask your relatives to provide a tube of toothpaste or a box of pasta in a bag on your door handle. Add “Napkins for Donation” to your family’s grocery shopping list.
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Contact a local business to see if they would be willing to house a donation box for a certain period of time. Make sure you have a sign which explains the Food and Essentials Collection Project. Remember to pick up donations regularly to make sure items don’t stack up and get in the way of normal business. Follow-up with a thank you note to the store owners when your collection time frame has ended.
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Count the total number of items you have collected.
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Document the donation by taking a photo.
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Capture the moment by taking a photo of the process of collecting donations, the pile of canned goods in the car, or your family placing the donation on the table at the food pantry, etc. (You’ll upload the photo as part of the on-line process for documenting the donation.)
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Make your donation.
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Drop your donation off at a food drive drop-box in a local grocery store, or coordinate with your local food shelf and deliver the items when they are ready to receive them. The goal is to get the items into the hands of those who can disperse them efficiently.
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Enter your donation information into the on-line form.
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To be counted for this event, donations need to be made from January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021 and be recorded prior to April 9, 2021 in the on-line form: https://unh.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5u9WJrKKkeTWBDf.
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Each donation that is made to an organization should be entered separately and should be accompanied by a photo documenting the donation.
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After the April 9 deadline, entries will be tallied, and the club, independent member, or family who collected and donated the most items from January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021 will be recognized with a winning trophy.
Did You Know:
Food Stamps can be used to get many food items; however many people don't have financial resources to purchase essential items like soap, toilet paper, and tissues.
Ideas of Items to Donate:
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Nonperishable Food:
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Pasta, Canned Fruit, Pudding Mix, Cereal, Cake Mix, Tea, Baking Mix, Flour, Spices, Sugar, Soup, Hot Chocolate
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Essentials:
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Shampoo, Tissues, Dish Soap, Toilet Paper, Toothpaste, Floss, Conditioner, Laundry Soap, Paper Plates, Napkins
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