For over 29 years, the food supply during the summer months at Families Forward sinks extremely low! Shelves and bins are nearly empty!! Five years ago, in an effort to help end summer hunger in Orange County, we began our Community Wide Food Drives in collaboration with local grocery stores. Here is how it works:
- A group of volunteers stands outside the stores to greet shoppers, hands them a small food list, and explains they are collecting food for Families Forward to help provide food for families in need. Many shoppers are very happy to pick up a few extra items to donate.
- When the shopper comes out of the store, the volunteers collect donated items in a grocery cart. Families Forward provides food lists and literature about the mission. Some shoppers come out with bags & carts loaded.
- At the end of the shift, volunteers who worked the shift bring the food to the Families Forward warehouse. Or specific volunteers designated to be the "drivers" deliver the collected food to the Families Forward warehouse.
- Groups recruit 2-4 volunteers to work a shift at each store site.
- The food drive is from 9am to 3pm on Saturday, August 10th with two-hour shifts staggered throughout the day. Most partner grocery stores are in the Irvine area. Our food pantry will be open from 11:00am-4:00pm to drop off food donations.
