Host a Food and Fund Drive
Host a Food and Fund Drive
When you organize a Food and Fund Drive, you’re doing more than collecting food or raising money, you’re providing hope, dignity, and nourishment to local families facing hunger.
Each year, compassionate individuals, businesses, schools, clubs, and faith communities come together to support Second Harvest through drives that help provide thousands of meals across Central Florida. You can be part of this powerful movement.
Choose the drive that works for you:
- Traditional Food Drive
Collect non-perishable food donations and monetary donations at your work, church or in your neighborhood. - Virtual Food Drive
Just $10 can help provide 40 meals. Our easy-to-use virtual food drive tool makes it simple to rally friends, family, and coworkers online to make a real impact.
You can choose one method or do both, every drive makes an incredible difference for families, kids and seniors experiencing hunger. Before you begin, be sure to read the Food and Fund Drive FAQ below for helpful tips and important guidelines.
What are our critical needs items?
- Fruits
Canned fruit (in its own juice, no sugar added varieties), dried fruit, 100% fruit juice - Vegetables
Canned vegetables (reduced salt/no salt varieties), 100% vegetable juice, spaghetti sauce - Grains
Rice, pasta, crackers (whole-grain varieties), ready-to-eat cereal (low sugar/high-fiber), oatmeal - Protein Foods
Canned meat/poultry, canned tuna/salmon (packed in water), canned/dry beans & peas (low/no salt varieties), peanut butter
- Dairy/Dairy Alternatives
Nonfat dry milk, evaporated milk, soy milk - Meals
Beef stew, canned soup (reduced sodium varieties), chili, other canned meals - Other
Nutritional drinks (ex: Ensure, Boost) - Baby Food
Must be in complete, undamaged original packaging. No individual serving glass or plastic containers unless in an unopened case. - Non-food Items
Diapers, toiletries (soap, shampoo, shaving cream, etc.). Must be unopened and stored separately from food donations.
Please remember the special needs of infants and toddlers; they need FIVE to THRIVE
Infants
- Powdered infant milk or soy-based formulas (WIC-approved preferred)
- Baby cereal
- Baby fruits (single ingredient preferred)
- Baby vegetables (single ingredient preferred)
Toddlers
- Shelf-stable white whole milk for 1-year-olds; Shelf-stable 1% (low fat) or skim milk for 2-year-olds and up; Shelf-stable soy milk.
- Canned fruits, preferably packed in juice with no added sugar
- Canned vegetables, preferably low sodium or no salt added
- Canned beans such as black, red, pink, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, pigeon peas, garbanzos
- Shelf stable foods designed for toddlers such as Stage 3, Graduates, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I drop off my donations?
Please call ahead to confirm staff availability.
Do not leave donations outside unattended — they may be stolen before we can bring them inside.
Orlando (Main Facility)
411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, FL 32805
Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am – 3pm. (Closed 12pm – 1pm)
407-295-1066
Come to the main entrance on Mercy Drive. Please call when you arrive for instructions.
Daytona Beach (Volusia Branch)
320 North Street, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
386-257-4499
Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 – 11:30 am, 1:00 – 2:30 pm.
Melbourne (Brevard Branch)
3125 Skyway Circle, Melbourne, FL 32934
321-733-1600
Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am – 1pm.
Ocala (Marion Branch)
4045 NE 36th Ave., Ocala, FL 34478
352-732-5500
Monday through Friday between the hours of 9am – 3pm.
Can Second Harvest pick up my donation?
Our resources continue to be utilized at mobile distributions, and we are limiting food drive pickups at this time. We greatly appreciate the donations being brought to us when possible.
To schedule one of our trucks, a minimum of 200lbs. (about 20 boxes) must be collected and it needs to be scheduled in advance.
Thank you for understanding.
Who should I contact with food drive related questions?
Ian Dixon
Food Drive Manager
407-514-1098
idixon@feedhopenow.org
Do you have any resources that will help make my food drive a success?
Yes! Please download the food and fund drive manual to help you get started. Our manual contains easy to follow, step by step instructions for starting and managing your drive.
Need a poster?
Click on the link below for the branch you need.
Who should I contact about a Virtual Food Drive?
Pieter Snyman
Digital Fundraising Specialist
407-514-1080
psnyman@feedhopenow.org
Visit the Virtual Food Drive page to get started.
Stories of Hope
Real Stories. Real Impact.
Meet the neighbors, partners and volunteers who bring our mission to life. These stories highlight how your support helps fight hunger, fuel futures and strengthen communities
— one meal at a time.
$10 a month helps provide 40 meals
Your monthly gift as a Meal Maker brings breakfast to a child, dinner to a senior, and relief to a family during a hard time. Hope starts with you.