What is a neighborhood food shelf pick-up?
It is an opportunity for your neighbors to give to a local food shelf in a simple, efficient, and rewarding manner. They are invited to leave a bag of food on their front step once a month so that you can pick up the food items and deliver them to your local food shelf. The impact of a neighborhood food shelf pick-up is immeasurable; it is far greater than canned items. Through a neighborhood food shelf pick-up, habits are changed, generosity is multiplied, and community is redefined to be a network of care in which we provide for one another.
Do we generate our own letters and postcards to distribute or does Project FoodStock provide them?
Project FoodStock provides
templates/samples that you may choose to use or adapt. Since Project FoodStock does not
solicit donations, each neighborhood generates copies of their own letters and postcards at their own
expense.
Do we choose our own pickup dates or would you like them to be on a specific date?
You can choose any recurring day that works best for you (i.e. every fourth Monday of each month).
We work during the day; is it okay if our monthly pick-up time is in the evening?
It may be a good idea to choose either a Saturday morning pick-up time, or an after-dinner pick-up
time after people have returned from work to avoid having food items left outside all day in rain, snow, etc.
How can we find out about a food shelf drop-off location near us?
We have compiled a list of
food shelf drop-off locations so that
you can choose the one that is most convenient for you.
I am not from Dakota County, but would like to start a food shelf pick-up in my own neighborhood. Can I still use your materials?
We wholeheartedly encourage anyone - regardless of location - to begin a neighborhood
food shelf pick-up, and invite you to use our
materials to get started.
If you do not live in Dakota County, MN and choose to begin a food shelf pick-up, here are some tips for finding food shelves in your area:
How do I learn more about or attend the Project FoodStock Gatherings?
We are in the process of developing a calendar of gatherings for the next several months that will be posted on this site.
In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about or attending a Project FoodStock gathering,
please e-mail us at
engage@projectfoodstock.org.
How do I get someone from Project FoodStock to come and speak at my workplace, church or other organization?
If you are interested in having someone from Project FoodStock come to your workplace, church or other
organization, please e-mail us at
engage@projectfoodstock.org.
Should we use the name "Project FoodStock" on our materials?
Project FoodStock is not a neighborhood food shelf pick-up; it is a resource to those who are doing neighborhood
food shelf pick-ups. That said, you are more than welcome to use the Project FoodStock identity if you
so choose, but may also choose to come up with your own catchy name for those in your neighborhood.
Does Project FoodStock accept cash donations?
Project FoodStock does accept cash donations. Donations are used to further our mission; to grow a
sustainable system that will keep our food shelves stocked as the community of care grows. We are a tax-exempt non-profit;
all donations can be written off. Please
contact us for more
information regarding giving opportunities.
How many neighborhoods are currently participating in monthly food shelf pick ups?
As of January, 2009 we estimate approximately 70 neighborhoods are doing food shelf pick ups. In the future we plan to implement a more
formal method of tracking food donations as a measurement of our impact.