Volunteers sort cans at the Alameda County Fair Feed the Need Food Drive
Shifting from a charity to a justice model requires us to question the “ways we’ve always done things,” to listen to community feedback, to collaborate, and to innovate. While food drives might sound a little old school, and other food banks in the Bay Area have paused their food drive programs, we’ve found a way to evolve ours to be a relevant and important tool in our food justice work.
This shift started when members of ACCFB’s procurement and food drive teams had a conversation with Kathy, a client of our home delivery program and community advocate who candidly shared that the food she received through home delivery was lacking in quality and diversity.
Hearing this feedback, our team saw an opportunity to change their approach to food sourcing to bring more options and dignity to community members like Kathy.
A selection of food donated through food drives
Food donated through community food drives often includes high-quality items, recognizable brands, and a unique variety of options, beyond what ACCFB has the budget to purchase directly in bulk. ACCFB is now shifting to divert high-quality, shelf-stable foods from food drives to our Home Delivery Program and in Ready to Eat bags for unhoused community members.
Through this shift, we’re making the most of food drive resources, sending a diverse array of high-quality food where it will have a targeted positive impact for community members who are unhoused, who are dealing with health conditions, and who are unable to leave their homes to go to the grocery store. In the last fiscal year, food from community food drives brought in over $1 million worth of quality food!
Start a Food Drive
In addition to supplying high quality and unique items, community food drives are a special way for participants to get firsthand experience with the food that they donate. For kids and people of all ages, food drives are a memorable way to engage with hunger relief, and these efforts can inspire continued action for years to come.
You can be a part of “drive-ing” towards food justice by participating in or hosting a food drive. When you donate food, prioritize high-quality items—cans with pull-tab lids are especially helpful. Talk to your friends and neighbors about the value of food drives and how they’re connected to our food justice work. Every can collected and every conversation is part of our journey to food justice!
Learn more about how you can start your own food drive.
