Food For The Soul:

A Virtual Food Drive by Food For Greater Elgin

We’ve all rifled through our pantries at some point or another, looking for non-perishable goods to donate to the local food bank, or contribute to the USPS annual food drive, or maybe even to reduce a library fine on an overdue book. It feels good to give back a portion of our abundance.

But the hard truth is, your local food pantry can do so much more with your dollars than we can with your canned goods.

Don’t get us wrong: We will happily take (almost) any non-perishable items you have to offer. But all those items require sorting and shelving, which means valuable volunteer hours at play. Random food items also don’t necessarily help with any urgent needs your local pantry might be facing–SpaghettiOs are great, but they aren’t a proper substitute for milk!

That’s why we’re asking you to take a different approach to food drives: Contributing just $20 can help us feed a family for a week.

Here’s how:

1. Compose A Team

Who doesn’t love a little friendly competition? Create your own food drive and get your friends and family involved!

Find detailed instructions here.

2. Crank Up The Volume

Ask your friends and family to contribute to your food drive. Share your food drive where you connect with your community – on social media, via text or email and even in person!

Here’s a social media caption to get you started:

Food insecurity puts life out of tune! Families in our community shouldn’t have to go hungry so they can afford to pay rent, buy life-saving medicine, or put gas in the car to get to work in the morning. A full cupboard? That’s music to my ears! Help me fight food insecurity by supporting Food For Greater Elgin’s Virtual Food Drive – running all February long.

Donate today at the link in my bio!

3. Win ESO Tickets

The team conductor that raises the most will win six tickets to an Elgin Symphony Orchestra show.

Not team conductor material? Be a contributing artist! Here’s a few other ways you can fight food insecurity this February:

• Donate canned and non-perishable goods at an Elgin Symphony Orchestra performance on March 2nd and 3rd.

• Volunteer at the pantry (and maybe catch a musical performance at the pantry from Elgin Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, February 28th!)

• Donate to an existing food drive.

At Food For Greater Elgin, we believe that food is the most basic human need. Our mission is to provide everyone—regardless of race, nationality, age, religion, immigration status, language, or ability—with access to fresh, quality groceries.

Join the movement and contribute to our virtual food drive!