The Student Food Drive is an effort conducted by area high schools to collect and donate food and funds to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. In addition to collecting food and funds for those in need, the drive:

• Gives students a chance to help their school and other groups in the community
• Promotes volunteerism and community involvement

This year, the Student Food Drive will be limiting it's live events, and encouraging students and supporters to give online. 

Who Is Participating?

Local high school students and advisors throughout our 16-county service area.

What is the Student Food Drive?

An effort to collect and donate food and funds to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, to help feed over 50,000 northeast Iowans who are experiencing hunger, including over 14,000 children.

How does it work?

With the help of a faculty advisor, students plan school events and contests to promote the food drive, organize their food and fund collection, and package and deliver the food to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

When is this happening?

Monday, October 5th- Friday, November 6th

How does this benefit those in need?

Food collected will be channeled back into participating communities in our various programs throughout the 16 counties we serve in northeast Iowa.

Why are we doing this?

To collect food and funds for those in need, give students a chance to help their school and other groups in the community, promote volunteerism and community involvement, and develop organizational skills.

MOST NEEDED ITEMS

• Foods high in protein such as canned meats (i.e., tuna, chicken, salmon) & peanut butter
• Foods high in nutrients, such as canned fruits & vegetables
• Rice, cereal, granola bars, & pasta
• Canned soups, chilies, and stews
• Personal care items such as toilet paper, bar soap, toothpaste/toothbrush

ITEMS WE CANNOT TAKE

• Rusty or unlabeled cans
• Perishable items (applies only to food drive donations)
• Homemade or home canned items
• Noncommercial canned or packaged items
• Alcoholic beverages, mixes, or soda
• Opened or used items
• Clothing
• Animal food
• Pop or bottled water
• Bulk or commercial-sized items

*PLEASE NOTE: If you donate glass products, please box or bag them separately and label the box or bag “GLASS” on all sides.*

MEAL MEASUREMENTS

1.2 Lbs. = 1 meal | $1 = 4 meals | 1 hour of volunteerism = 100 meals

The food item’s weight is calculated into meals, and the conversion is 1.2 lbs. = 1 meal. Money donations will be accepted and later converted into meals, and the conversion for money is $1 = 4 meals. Money donations directly given allow us to use connections to gain more food items for cents on the dollar, which means more items purchased for less. Volunteer hours at the Food Bank during the drive will be converted into meals. The conversion is 1 hour (per student) = 100 meals (this is based on the national average that every volunteer saves a nonprofit $25.43 per hour). Our volunteer team will have set shifts set aside for students to participate individually or as a group throughout the drive.

REWARDS & RECOGNITION

Participating high schools are awarded funds for needed school or student council projects. Students are recognized for their efforts at an awards party on the last day of the drive where prizes are awarded for different levels of achievement. Participating schools will be added to all paid and non-paid media the Food Bank puts on for the Student Food Drive, and students will be recognized on our social media, newsletter, press release, and bi-weekly email blast.

MARKETING

Contact The Media

That means radio, TV, and newspaper. When contacting the media about your school’s upcoming events, please be sure to:

• Designate one student to be the media communications person
• In the subject line of any emails put “Student Food Drive Event”

To schedule radio contacts, reach out to:

• Bryan Helleso - Northeast Iowa Food Bank Marketing Manager
• [email protected]
• (319)-235-0507 ext. 116

To submit events to the Waterloo Courier newspaper, each out to:

• Newsroom (319)-291-1400
  
• [email protected]
  
• www.wcfcourier.com

Go Social 

Tag the Northeast Iowa Food Bank! We want to know about your events. To notify us about these happenings, reach out to:

• Alisha Rulapaugh - Northeast Iowa Food Bank Director of Engagement
• [email protected]
• (319)-235-0507 ext. 105

When contacting us about your school's upcoming events, please be sure to include:

• Name of school
• Event date(s)
• Event time
• Event location
• Additional event details

EVENT GUIDELINES

• The faculty advisor must approve ALL events
• Email or call in the event to the Food Bank for inclusion in our marketing avenues
• Raise money with the purpose of purchasing food through the Food Bank’s buying powers or collect nonperishable canned foods with your events
• Be creative!
• Have fun!

DATES & COMMITMENTS

• All schools will have a student advisor that will be a liaison between the Food Bank and
  the school.
• Each school will be grouped into size divisions based on the number of students per
  school. Students may also work with younger students from feeder schools or their own
  school to help teach them about the food drive.
• The student kick-off party will be October 5th at 5:00 p.m. at the Food Bank with the final delivery date and awards party scheduled 5 weeks later on Friday, November 6th. Like years past on the final delivery date, we will have a volunteer event at the Food Bank for students and school staff. You will be able to drop off the food between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. by appointment, and the Food Bank will provide an opportunity for those involved to see what happens during an average day at the Food Bank by volunteering until the awards party at 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
• Each school must deliver the food or money raised on that delivery day.
• Communities are encouraged to support their students during this challenge.
• This is an opportunity for your students to be a part of a national crisis, providing food to those who need it most and giving students the opportunity to be agents of change.
• Students are the primary spokespersons for this project. It is important that they tell their story and celebrate their efforts.
• There is support available for school administrators, principals, and other personnel to help answer questions as they arise.
• A school advisor, administrator, and Food Bank representative will sign a contract detailing each entity’s responsibilities.

About The Northeast Iowa Food Bank

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank provides nutritious food and grocery products to about 200 nonprofit organizations and programs who assist the hungry and to individuals who are in need of food assistance to sustain life. Last year, the Food Bank distributed more than 8 million pounds of food, which provided over 6.9 million meals within a 16-county service area.

The Food Bank provides eight programs that serve the Community: Member Agency Distribution, Cedar Valley Food Pantry, BackPack Program, Kids Cafe, Elderly Nutrition, Mobile Food Pantries, Summer Feeding and a Community Garden. Encompassing all eight of these programs is a commitment to nutrition education. The Food Bank is a member of the Iowa Food Bank Association and Feeding America. For more information, visit www.northeastiowafoodbank.org.

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