How Kids Can Help Local Shelters With Food Supplies

Kids often make great volunteers because they can see the results of their efforts.

Local food banks and shelters provide much-needed support and assistance to those who are less fortunate and/or individuals who have to use transitional housing to avoid living on the street. Many shelters are facilitated through not-for-profit agencies or municipalities with very limited budgets. Some thrive solely through the generosity of others. Schools and faith-based entities alike are teaching youth the importance of outreach and social enrichment projects. Even small groups of youth can make a huge difference in local shelters by creating and organizing ways to enhance their food supplies.

Instructions

1. Identify the type of local shelter the student group wants to assist. Consider shelters for the homeless, battered women or teen runaways. For help, you may wish to contact a local branch of the Red Cross, Salvation Army or some other nationally known organization that can put you in touch with local affiliates. Find out what kind of food is needed, as most shelters have specific needs and wants lists.

2. At a student council or other academic club or organization meeting, plan to organize a food drive at your school. Determine a definitive launch and end date. Post adequate signage around the school. Be specific about what you want and don't want people to donate. Place durable receptacles at accessible points throughout the school campus. Consider an incentive, such as a pizza party, that will reward students by the group or grade level. Ask a local restaurant to sponsor the drive.

3. Organize the youth organization within your church to host a food drive. Advertise and collect beyond the church. If you or someone you know participates in activities such as martial arts or other groups, ask about putting a collection box in the buildings you visit frequently. Check with your school to see if you can place a box there to assist your church's drive. Consider advertising in a manner that appeals to diverse populations and doesn't offend anyone. Again, be specific about the food you want and don't want people to donate.

4. Designate a particular game or sporting event to be a food drive night. Ask the organizers of the event if food donations can be substituted for the price of admittance. Advertise that fans can attend the game if they bring a specific, predetermined amount of food items. Ask local stores to sponsor the effort by donating a specific number of food items for each point scored. On behalf of the winner, it can be a larger amount than for the losing team.

Tips & Warnings

• Coordinate in advance how the shelter will receive the donations. Ask that shelter representatives speak or appear at events or activities to support the food drive.

• Consider going to the shelter to assist with the delivery, organization and storage of the donated foods. But be aware that to protect their clients, some shelters may have locations that remain undisclosed even to volunteers. Also, minimum age requirements may apply to volunteerism.

References

• volunteermatch
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development