Run a Food Drive for the ASRC Foodbank
When you run a food drive for the ASRC Foodbank, you’ll make a difference to people seeking asylum by providing one of the most basic human rights, food.
Why Run a Food Drive?
- Unite your staff, students, community group or neighbours around a common cause
- Be confident your donation goes directly to some of the most vulnerable people in our community
- Raise awareness about hunger in the community and encourage others to take action
- Make a big impact with minimal expense.
Need help getting started?
How to run a food drive
Learn how to run your own food drive, from how to choose your drop-off location to how to deliver your donations to the ASRC
Foods we need
.Find out what are the top 10 most needed items to make a difference to people seeking asylum
Tips and Resources
Access a number of items and ideas to help you promote your Food Drive
How to Run a Food Drive
When?
Decide on a start and finish date. The shorter the time span for your food drive, the easier it will be to keep people engaged.
Where?
Choose a drop-off location for the food. If your food drive is at a school, in an office or community centre, choose a drop-off location that is easy to access and highly visible, and provide a large container labelled with the food list.
If you are holding a drive within your local neighbourhood, a protected front porch in a dog-free front yard can be used as a contactless ‘any time’ donation point.
Drop-off?
You can drop off goods to our centres in Footscray and Dandenong or at other collection points across Melbourne. Please click here for the locations for dropping off goods.
Need support?
We have a suite of resources to help you promote and host your food drive. Find out more about the support we can provide and download the resources today.
If you have any questions or require additional support please email donatefood@asrc.org.au.
What Items Should We Collect in our Food Drive?
We rely heavily on donations to be able to provide food and essential items for people coming to our Foodbank.
Essential food items are our priority, and sticking to the list ensures that our community’s needs are met, and we make the most out of your donation. We would love your donations of:
- Tuna in oil, of any size
- Tinned vegetables (tomatoes, peas, carrots, corn kernels)
- Dried/tinned legumes (beans, chickpeas, red or yellow lentils)
- Coconut cream or milk
- Vegetable or olive oil (750ml – 1L)
- Tomato paste
- Spices (cumin, turmeric, chilli flakes, coriander, garam masala etc.)
- Honey, peanut butter, jam or tahini
- Instant coffee / black tea bags
- Sweet / savoury biscuits
- Deodorant/razors
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste
To respect the dignity of the people accessing the ASRC Foodbank and also to comply with Victorian health regulations, we cannot accept items that are past their expiry or use-by date or have damaged or open packaging.
Due to food preferences of the communities we are supporting in the Foodbank, some foods are not needed in the ASRC Foodbank, including baked beans, tinned spaghetti, tinned soup or powdered mashed potatoes.
Ideas for Success
Make it a competition
A little competition helps raise the stakes. Set a goal for your school or office and have different classes or departments compete to see who collects the most food. Offer an incentive such as a pizza and movies afternoon for the winning team or classroom.
Create a theme
Your food drive can be themed around a season eg Winter Warmers or religious events such as Christmas or Rosh Hashanah. This connection will help keep your food drive relevant, and at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Build a connection to the cause
Give donors a fact sheet that includes some background information on people seeking asylum who live in our communities, and the work and purpose of the ASRC. Informing your participants helps to connect them with the cause.
Connect with us
Need help from the ASRC? Call 03 9326 6066 or visit us: Mon-Tue-Thur-Fri 10am -4pm. Closed on Wednesdays.