Schools, churches, synagogues, civic organizations, local businesses, and clubs conduct food and fund drives on behalf of Channel One. You can get involved by planning a drive for your group!

SPONSOR A FOOD OR FUND DRIVE

Planning a drive for Channel One is easier than you may think. Food and Fund Drives are fun, positive team building experiences that can help your group feel more connected to the community. Each year, hundreds of local businesses, school and church groups, individuals and many others sponsor fund and food drives that benefit local people in need.

Your efforts make an enormous difference in the amount and variety of foods we are able to distribute. Even a small team can make a big difference.

Download our food/fund drive kit to get started. It contains creative ideas for food drives, most requested food items, posters, and current service statistics regarding who we serve. You can feel free to make copies of any of these materials.

Additional questions regarding food and fund drives can be directed to Maggie at 507-424-1705.

Most Requested Food Items:

Meats, Fish and Protein – canned tuna, ham or chicken, beef stew, chili, peanut butter, canned/dried beans
Fruits and Vegetables – fresh produce, 100% fruit juice, canned fruits and vegetables, instant potatoes, fruit preserves
Complete Meals – pasta & sauce, boxed meals, hearty soups
Grains – cereal, rice
Hygiene products – shampoo, deodorant, soap, diapers, toilet paper, feminine hygiene, toothpaste
Cooking Basics – flour, sugar, and cooking oil

No glass containers, baby food, perishable items or home canned foods please!

REQUESTING COLLECTION CONTAINERS FOR YOUR DRIVE:

Decide between BOXES and BARRELS

When to use your own boxes
Small to medium-size boxes (copy paper boxes) work well for food drives.  We encourage you to use boxes for any drive generating fewer than 300 pounds of food (roughly three full grocery carts of food).

When to use Channel One barrels
Channel One can provide barrels for food collection.  However we do ask that you limit the use of them to large drives where you expect to generate at least 300 pounds of food.  If your group can pick up empty barrels from our warehouse at the beginning of your drive, that's even better.  This keeps our transportation costs down and is another way you can help the Food Bank.  Saving Channel One the delivery trip is equivalent to making an additional donation!

Ending Your Food and Fund Drive

Your Food & Fund Drive has ended.  It's a success!  It's time to tally up the numbers and bring the donations to Channel One.

Increase the value of your donation by delivering it directly to the Food Bank.  However, if you are unable to donate the transportation for your food drive, you can arrange to have Channel One pick up your donation.  Due to the demand for agency order deliveries, large donation pick-ups and other regularly scheduled operational trucking functions, your flexibility is needed and appreciated.  Deliveries and pick-ups occur between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.  Please note that during the holiday season, our pickup schedule fills quickly.

WHY ADD FUNDS TO YOUR DRIVE?

We encourage fund drives for individuals and organizations who want to know the best way they can help Channel One fight hunger. For every $1 donated, Channel One is able to distribute enough food to provide 5 meals!

Monetary donations provide the greatest benefit to the hungry families, children and seniors in our community. Even if you are already committed to doing a food drive, consider the option of adding a fund drive. Many individuals would rather write a tax-deductible check than pick up extra food at the grocery store for a food drive. A $25 cash donation can help us distribute enough food to provide 125 meals--that is stretching your donation farther and feeding even more people than a donation of food.

END YOUR DRIVE IN STYLE

Do you know what happens to donated food? It needs to be sorted and sometimes re-boxed before it can be distributed. Someone needs to sort it, why not you? Working in groups is fun and rewarding. We invite your group to stay a few hours after delivering your food – not only to sort it, but also to tour our newly remodeled facilities.

TOURS

Come see for yourself how Channel One operates!

Tours are available to individuals and groups of up to 20 people. Tours are free – but we wouldn’t mind if you brought a can of food as your donated “admission fee.” To schedule a tour contact Maggie Parham, our Development Associate and Volunteer Recruiter, by phone (507) 424-1705 or e-mail maggieparham@channel-one.org. Be sure to include your name, phone number and e-mail address, and date and time you’d like to come.

FOOD DROP OFF SITES

Channel One accepts contributions of food from 8am – 4pm, Monday through Friday. In addition, we have numerous collection sites for non-perishable food. Find out where you can go to donate food for someone in need.

Channel One Food Collection Sites

ATTENTION ALL GARDENERS

You can help feed people in need by sharing your garden's yield.

In partnership with the United Way of Olmsted County, Channel One is pleased to announce the Harvest for the Hungry produce donation effort. You can make an impact by donating your surplus produce to Channel One Food Bank and Food Shelf. Your fresh and healthy donations will help feed local families and individuals struggling to make ends meet.

Channel One is glad to accept donations of produce that travel well and are good keepers including:

• Carrots
• Radishes
• Green Beans
• Summer Squash (please keep maximum length for zucchini under 8 inches)
• Winter Squash
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Peppers
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Beets

Due to its perishability, Channel One prefers NOT to receive donations of lettuce. For specific guidelines of donating produce, please download our produce resource sheet.