Here you will find answers to most of your questions. However, if you still have questions, please leave a message for our Food Drive Coordinator at 800-209-4711 (toll free) or send us an email at YourFoodDrive@FeedOC.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. During the holidays it may take us a day or two to get back to you due to the high volume of calls.

What is the difference between a virtual food drive and a traditional food drive?

Virtual Food Drives
If you’d like your donation make the greatest impact, then a Virtual Food Drive is for you! Second Harvest Food Bank can leverage our buying power to provide more meals. Every $1 helps us provide the equivalent of 3 meals to the hungry. Virtual Food Drives let you skip the hassle of going to the grocery store to purchase food and delivering it to your office or our facility. You “buy” food from our virtual food listings and we purchase healthy, nutritious fruits, veggies and other staple items like peanut butter and cereal for those in need. 100% of the proceeds from Virtual Food Drives are used to purchase food.

Traditional Food Drives
Hosts collect a wide variety of shelf-stable food donated by friends, family and colleagues. Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions we are no longer able to accept individual food drive donations. If you would prefer to do a food collection, a handful of our pantry partners throughout the community are open and able to accept these donations. You can connect with them directly to set up a time to drop off your donations. Please view the Deliver Your Food tab at the top of the page to see the list of partners you can connect with for a food drop-off.

Whether you are hosting a Virtual Food Drive, a traditional food drive, or a combination of both, we, and the clients we serve, are very grateful for your generosity and support. Please join us and start your food drive to end hunger in OC today!

Can I host a combination traditional and virtual food drive?

Yes, you can! Hosting a combination of a Virtual Food Drive and a traditional food drive is a great way to support Second Harvest. We encourage Virtual Food Drives because they are so convenient and we can purchase much larger quantities of food than consumers could for the same amount of money. But, we also know that many people enjoy donating canned and other shelf stable items through traditional food drives. Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions we are no longer able to accept individual food drive donations. If you would prefer to do a food collection, a handful of our pantry partners throughout the community are open and able to accept these donations, please visit the Deliver Your Food tab. You can connect with them directly to set up a time to drop off your donations. Whichever food drive or combination of food drives you do, will help provide food for vulnerable people in our community. 100% of the proceeds from Virtual Food Drives or traditional food and funds drives are used to purchase food for the hungry.

How do I start a food drive?

The first step is to register your food drive. After registering for a Virtual Food Drive, you will have access to all the tools, tips and resources you’ll need to host a successful food drive.

When can I start my food drive and how long should my food drive last?

You can start your Virtual Food Drive right away. If this is your first time hosting a virtual food drive we find that drives that are 2 – 4 weeks work well to make sure you have time to get the word out to your friends, family and colleagues. There are food drives that are shorter and others that last as long a month or two. Once you register and read the food drive tips, you’ll be able to decide what is right for you or your company.

How do I set a collection goal?

Thanks to your generosity and our bulk purchasing, we can provide the equivalent of 3 meals for every $1 and 100% of the proceeds from Virtual Food Drives are used to purchase nutritious food. You can set the goal that seems right to you, but aim high – you can change your donation goal at any time.

When is the best time to host my food drive?

Most of our food drives happen during the holiday season (October – December), but we need your support all year long! We work throughout the year to help kids, seniors, families, and individuals. We provide food to school and church pantries, shelters for abused women and children, after school programs, and soup kitchens. Summer is a time when we can use more help. During the summer months many kids go hungry because school is closed so they don’t get free breakfast and lunch. So join us to make sure no one goes hungry in OC. Start your food drive today!

Do you prefer financial donations or food donations?

Financial donations have huge impact in on the community. Every $1 Second Harvest receives helps us provide the equivalent of 3 meals. Financial donations give Second Harvest the flexibility to purchase truckloads of most-needed, nutritious food items.

What resources are available to help my food drive?

Once you register, you will receive an email with tips about hosting and growing your food drive. We will also provide you with tips for using social media to promote your food drive and with some sample posts and Tweets.

Can I use your logo to help promote my food drive?

Yes! Please send us a copy of any materials you create so we can approve the use of our logo. Please download, fill out and sign our logo usage form when requesting the use of our logo. Once you return it to us, we will email you our logo. When you sign up for your food drive, don’t forget to add a photo or your company logo to your customizable food drive page and to use our customizable posters to help promote your food drive.

How do I use my customizable food drive web page to promote my food drive?

When you register your food drive, you will receive your very own food drive web page! This is a great tool to help you manage and promote your food drive. You can send emails to your friends, family and co-workers to promote your food drive. Don’t forget to add a photo or your company logo to your page to encourage participation. You will also be able to track financial donations, organize and motivate teams and share progress updates with your supporters.

What are the major guidelines for canned food donations?

Food drive donations must be:

• Non-perishable
• Standard retail food products (we cannot accept homemade food)
• In the original container with the original product label
• Within the "Use by" or "Best if used by" dates
• Free of damage, stains or moisture
• No glass containers

PLEASE NOTE: Boxes used to collect and store food must NOT have been used previously to store raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, produce or chemicals. Please store products in a cool, dry and clean area.

What are the most needed non-perishable food items?

Please help us provide nutritious food to those who need it. Heathier items that are low in sodium and sugar, high in protein and fiber include:

• Peanut or other nut butters
• Canned vegetables (low sodium)
• Rice (brown preferred)
• Canned fruit (packed in water or juice)
• Dried or canned beans (low sodium)
• Whole grain cereal (low sugar)
• Canned or boxed soup (low sodium)
• Whole grain pasta
• Canned meat or fish (in water)
• Healthy snacks like low sugar granola bars, raw nuts or dried fruit

We also accept some personal care items:

• Diapers
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Toilet paper
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Soap
• Feminine hygiene products

Are there any items you will not accept?

We are not able to accept the following:

• Food in glass containers
• Items that have been opened or partially used
• Products not in their original packaging
• Products missing ingredient information labels
• Homemade or home-canned foods
• Products that have become contaminated
• Alcoholic beverages of any kind 

Do I have to put my food donations in a certain type of box?

You can use a box similar to a banana box or copy paper box. These boxes will generally hold about 35 to 45 pounds depending on the number of cans in the box.

PLEASE NOTE: Boxes used to collect and store food must NOT have been used previously to store raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, produce or chemicals. Please store products in a cool, dry and clean area.

Do I need to check the expiration dates on our donations?

Yes, please. Donated food must be within the “Use by” of “Best if used by” dates.

How can I double my donation?

Many organizations have matching gift programs for financial donations. Ask your employer if they will match your donation and double your impact!

Can I drop my donations off at Second Harvest?

Due to COVID-19 safety restrictions we are no longer able to accept individual food drive donations. If you would prefer to do a food collection, a handful of our pantry partners throughout the community are open and able to accept these donations. You can connect with them directly to set up a time to drop off your donations. Please view the list of our community partners on the Deliver Your Food tab at the top of the page.

How do I submit my financial donations?

You may donate directly , bring the funds to our facility, or mail a check to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, 8014 Marine Way, Irvine, CA 92618, Attn: Food Drives.

Will I get a receipt for my donations?

Yes, an electronic receipt will be sent to the email you provide at the time of your check out. If you experience any issues with receipting or have any questions, please email our Database Administrator at Give@FeedOC.org 

Can we come for a tour to see how Second Harvest feeds more than 250,000 people each month?

Yes! We are excited to show you how the Second Harvest works. Click this link to register for a Food Bank 101 tour.

How do I make a product donation if I work in the food industry?

Thank you for thinking of Second Harvest to make a product donation. Please visit our Food Industry Donation page for lots of great information about how to make a single or ongoing donation.

How does the food collected from food drives get to the people in need?

Second Harvest uses 100% of the financial donations from virtual and food drive funds to purchase fresh produce, fruit, dairy and protein, and the food collected through traditional food drives, to feed the hungry in Orange County. We distribute the food to more than 300 community partners who help us feed more than 400,000 people each month.