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Lutheran Community Services provides
emergency food for people throughout our
community, and we would like local schools
to show their support by conducting a Food
Drive.
We are aware that high school students
(grades 9-12) who volunteer in their
community gain a lot of benefits. They
become knowledgeable about what is
happening in their community and
experiences employment or college
application.
LCS continues to experience an increase
in clients seeking emergency food
assistance. (See 2012 Annual Report on
page 3 of this insert.) In order to meet this demand, LCS relies on donations from both
private and public sources as well as donations collected from Food Drives. We are
always looking for different venues to establish a Food Drive, especially ones that give
direct benefits to those during a Food
Drive.
Last year we did a pilot program with
Christiana High School. The entire
project was done by the students. We
went out to the school to give them
some startup tips but the students took
the ball and ran with it! They collected
over 1800 items and clocked over 250
volunteer hours over a three-week
period. The success and feedback
from the students made us all realize
this was a win-win for both LCS and Christiana High School. Yes, we stocked our
pantry; but we also realized that we were helping young people in several ways. They
were learning skills that would be valuable to them throughout their adult life:
● Skills: Planning, organizing, marketing, communicating, and being accountable.
● Teamwork: Learning how to work in a team environment, whether they were the team
leader or team worker
● Building volunteer hours: Every hour spent on the Food Drive, from the beginning to
the end, goes toward credit for graduation.
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Lutheran Community Services is a partner agency of Volunteer Delaware and the State
Office of Volunteerism which administers the Delaware Volunteer Credit Program and
certifies applicants for the President’s Volunteer Service Awards.
As a partner, LCS staff has agreed to verify volunteer hours served by high school
students who are working toward earning the Delaware Volunteer Credit which also
includes receiving a certificate of appreciation signed by the Governor and the
Secretary of the Department of Education. More information about both the DVC
Program and the President’s Volunteer Service Awards can be found at
www.volunteerdelaware.org by “clicking on Resources” in the blue horizontal bar or
“Contact Us”.
Thanks for serving and we look forward to working with you to achieve these
milestones.
Clare Garrison
Volunteer Services Coordinator
State Office of Volunteerism
Division of State Service Centers
Delaware Health and Social Services
www.volunteerdelaware.org
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We are reaching out to high schools in New Castle County and asking if they would be
willing to participate in a Food Drive. We are calling it "FEED THE NEED - Feed Your
Community, Feed Your Mind.” We will be happy to guide and offer advice to both the
school and students throughout the process. Our only stipulation is that once a student
signs on, he or she must stay involved from beginning to end regardless of how many
hours they need towards finishing in order to receive their volunteer credit. This keeps
the entire group accountable and responsible for the projects they take on and not
leaving their team mates left "holding the bag." In this case...a grocery bag.
I hope you will take the time to look over our Food Drive Kit and our blog post about the
Christiana Food Drive. This may give you some ideas, or you can create your own. We
would love to hear about them.
http://www.lcsvolunteersde.blogspot.com/2012/04/fill-that-bus.html
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. We look forward to
hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Cher Frampton
Volunteer Coordinator
(302) 654-8886 ext 107
[email protected]
2012 Annual Report to Congregations
4
L
ast year, the Lutheran Community Services (LCS) Emergency Food Program served more people
than ever before – substantially more. In 2011, our food program served 69,369. In 2012, our food
program served 86,750. That’s an increase in food clients of 25 percent during 2012. Looking at
the figures for all services combined, LCS served a total of 83,812 during 2011. During 2012, the
total number served zoomed up to 102,715, and for the first time ever, LCS served over 100,000 people.
That is an increase of 18,903 or 23 percent in 2012. This growth is part of a long upward trend. The table
below illustrates how demand has grown at our three stationery pantries (Hope, St. Stephens and Zion)
in the last 15 years. Keep in mind that these figures represent only 3 of our 13 separate food distribution
sites.
Individuals Served at Hope, St. Stephens and Zion LCS Food Pantries (1998-2012)
In addition to meeting the burgeoning demand in a quantitative sense, LCS is also committed to
improving the quality of service, in all three core areas – food, housing, and more. In the food area, we
concentrated on nutrition, handing out thousands of printed inserts dealing with nutrition on a budget
in 2012. We have also held well-attended nutritional seminars which is something that will continue in
2013. Also in 2013, we expect to continue our review of “client choice” options so that people have a
role in what foods they receive. In the housing area, we streamlined our procedures dramatically so that
while we helped about the same number of people in 2012 as the year before, we interviewed
substantially fewer, which saved time and effort for other tasks. We also enhanced our housing follow
up activities so that each client receives four follow-up contacts to assure that they are staying housed.
Our emphasis on financial literacy continued in 2012 with a goal of helping people prepare to deal with
future financial emergencies without jeopardizing their homes.
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Lutheran
Community
Services
FOOD
DRIVE
KIT
n following its mission – "Sharing God's
Blessings by Helping Others in Need" –
LCS is committed to making improvements
to the lives of its clients. In addition to
emergency assistance, we provide nutrition
education and financial literacy help that we
hope will encourage long-term changes in
people's lives.
I
6
Welcome
Lutheran Community Services (LCS) has been serving lowincome individuals and families in Wilmington and New
Castle County with emergency food, housing, and other
services since 1959. Originally founded to help senior citizens
with their independent living needs, LCS has evolved into a
multi-faceted social service agency with many different
programs and locations for people of all ages. In 2011,
Lutheran Community Services serviced 83,812 individuals in
Delaware, a 19% increase from 2010. For more information,
visit www.lcsde.org
LCS's Food Distribution Program has 13 food distribution
locations statewide including stationery and mobile pantries,
fresh produce, and grocery clubs. Referral or pre-registration
is needed or required for many of the programs.
To stock the pantries, LCS purchases food from the Food Bank of Delaware, and relies on generous
donations from individual and private sources, and donations collected from Food Drives.
Volunteers Fulfill Lutheran Community Services and Community Needs
Simultaneously
Food Drive Volunteers fulfill very important needs for Lutheran Community Services and our
Community.
•
First, they collect much needed food resources for LCS's 13 food distribution locations.
(See “Food’s We Can Use” on page 16 for a list of foods to collect.)
•
Second, they tell LCS's story (marketing and outreach) to the Community.
•
Lastly, volunteers directly help the Community because the food resources they collect
are directly donated back to Community to benefit individuals and families.
Why Help with a Food Drive?
•
First, demand for food is at all time high due to our current economy. According to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Delaware had an 8.2% unemployment rate in October, 2011.
Factors like these have increased requests at the food pantries. Requests have grown
each year in the past few years and are expected to continue to climb.
•
Second, Lutheran Community Services is a big organization with 13 statewide food
distribution locations and needs continuous resources to replenish the food inventories.
In 2012, they served 102,715 individuals.
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• Third, because Lutheran Community Services does not have a dedicated Staff member to
run Food Drives, volunteers fulfill this special role. LCS needs and relies on volunteers to
assist Lutheran Community Services by running Food Drives to collect food resources
and donations for LCS food pantries.
The Role of the Food Drive Manager
The Food Drive Manager oversees all aspects of the Food Drive including acquiring the venue,
overseeing the logistical details and delivering the food to the Lutheran Community Services Food
Pantry locations.
The Purpose of a Food Drive Kit
The Lutheran Community Service (LCS) Food Drive Event Kit is designed to help aid the Food
Drive Manager through the process of managing a Food Drive and ultimately build food pantry
resources for Lutheran Community Services. LCS has 13 statewide food pantries and is in constant
need to stock their food pantries due to the overwhelming demand.
This kit is the event management process from start to finish and is owned by Lutheran Community
Services. A detailed, generic approach was taken because the kit will be used by many individuals
with varying levels of event management experience. Some information may not be applicable to
every Food Drive. The sample documents are also located on the enclosed CD and are easy for
editing.
If you have comments, questions or suggestions, please contact Cher Frampton at the Volunteer
Coordinators Office, (302) 654-8886, ext 107 or email at [email protected]. Thank you, in
advance, for managing a food drive on LCS's behalf. Your support will bring in much needed food
and help hundreds of your neighbors in our Community!
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Getting Started
Managing a Food Drive is a series of steps. Here’s an overall look at what’s required:
FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE
1. Find a partner or two to help. Add some FUN. 
2. Acquiring a Venue.
3. Determining the Length of your Food Drive, and Considering Food Collection Times.
4. Marketing your Food Drive
5. Items needed for Your Food Drive
6. To Do After the Food Drive Ends
7. Wrap-up
Step 1: Find a Partner or two to help. Add some FUN 
Carrying out the Food Drive is so much easier and more enjoyable with 2 or 3 people. For starters,
it’s safer at the collection site. And it's easier packing and sorting, and delivering the food to LCS.
And when you are looking for a venue, you may receive a “yes” faster, if you are sharing the duties
with others. Note: is not a requirement, a Food Drive can be managed by 1 person but it is a little
more difficult so it's recommended that 2 or more share the task.
“Teamwork divides the task and multiples the success.”
~ Author Unknown
Step 2: Acquiring a Venue
1. Find a location (and receive permission, if necessary) where you can host a Food Drive.
Take along a helper, you will more likely gain permission.
2. Select a safe location that you know well.
3. Places that are open to the public, busy and near other stores or businesses are good choices.
4. Grocery stores, churches, community centers, strip malls and areas near grocery stores are
also good places.
5. Consider asking an organization where you are member or a business/store where you shop.
6. When thinking about venues, take in account venue characteristics (Is there an area where
you can set up the Food Drive table so that is out of the way for people traffic yet the table
can be seen and accessed?)
7. If it's outside, you'll need to dress and prepare weather including anchoring signage for wind.
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WHEN ASKING FOR PERMISSION, PLEASE CONSIDER:
If you need to ask for permission, ask for the owner or manager in person. Introduce yourself as a
LCS volunteer and please be familiar with the LCS and its mission (see Appendix). Provide them a
LCS brochure. When appropriate, state how you know the business, organization or store you are
asking. Tell them you are a managing a food drive for LCS and would like to host it at their site.
Talk about the increasing need for food due to the demand and our current economy. Mention how
positive this would be for their store; they would be doing a service to the Community.
Sample Request: “Hi, my name is Carolyn. I am a volunteer with Lutheran Community Services, a
local social service agency who provides emergency food, housing and other services to low-income
individuals and families in DE. I would like to host a food drive outside your business next Saturday
to benefit LCS. I shop here every week and thought of your store since it’s always busy and in a
good location. I (and two other volunteers) will be managing the entire process and will work with
you on details. Because so many people are unemployed and the demand for food is at an all time
high. Everything we collect will be distributed at one of LCS's 13 food pantries. Your support will
help 100’s of your neighbors in our Community. Is this possible, could we please have your support
to host a Food Drive at your Store?”
If you do visit and the manager is not available, consider making a general call in advance to
ask when it would be a good time to visit the manager.
Assure the owner/manager that you will manage the entire process. Answer questions and
note question(s) you cannot answer. Follow-up with LCS for assistance with questions you
cannot answer and be sure to follow-up to owner/manager.
When you are discussing the collection area, is it inside or outside? Ask if it is outside and
the weather is poor, can you reschedule the date?
A YES REPLY
Thank the owner/manager and confirm the details.
Follow their wishes when you design your food drive.
Discuss Food Drive collection times. Ask about their busiest times, that's the idea, to reach
the most people.
Discuss the location where you will set-up the collection table and bins.
Discuss poor weather, illness, emergency, etc. in case the Food Drive dates need to change.
Send a brief note of thanks including the details.
A NO REPLY
Thank them anyway. Leave contact information in the event they change their mind.
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Step 3: Determining the Length of Your Food Drive and Collection Times
Single Day Food Drives are the easiest.
However, two-day Drives, over a weekend or on a Fri & Sat, are fabulous opportunities to
collect an enormous amount of food because you can capture many people shopping for the
week.
Food Drive Collection Start and End Times
Consider the needs of the venue when you set your collection times but try to do what is
convenient for you too.
Ask the owner/manager for their busiest times so you can reach the most people.
Generally the start of the established business hours is the best time
to begin your Drive.
If you are doing multiple days: Four hour increments may be a good
stretch. Consider mixing your routine. You may want to do a morning one
day, an afternoon or a late afternoon on another day to reach the most folks.
For safety reasons, collecting after dark or late at night is not
recommended.
Consider your safety. Do not sit at a Food Drive collection site
alone. Have a least 1 or 2 other persons with you at all times. Keep a cell phone with you.
Do not accept cash. Accept checks made payable to “Lutheran Community Services.”
Step 4: Marketing Your Food Drive
Create posters with specific details about your Food Drive (date, time and place) and post them at the
Collection Site a few days before your Food Drive. See the Marketing Flyer in the Appendix.
Other suggestions to market your Food Drive:
Distribute the flyer at your church, local community center, stores, dentist, doctor,
hairdresser, etc.
Email the flyer or the Food Drive details to your friends, family, coworkers, etc. Ask others
to distribute the flyer along to their friends, family, coworkers, etc.
Post the flyer on your local Craigslist Events Page.
Create a Facebook event on your Facebook page and invite your friends. Post where you are
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hosting the Food Drive location and include information about LCS, its Mission, the type of
food you are collecting and the need for the donated food. Send reminders a few days and
the day before the Food Drive. On Food Drive day, post pictures of people donating food (or
of the donated food) and post comments while you are hosting your drive…. this will
encourage participation. And ask those who are helping you to do the same on their
Facebook pages. Also ask everyone that donates to take a picture of your Food Drive and
post it to their Facebook page stating that LCS is having a Food Drive with the event details.
Have a big sign with the event details (date, time and place) in front of the table so they will
be included in Facebook pictures. See the Appendix.
Have a Twitter account with followers? Tweet about your event while it’s happening. Keep
it current and exciting to encourage support. Note: Facebook is more effective.
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Step 5: Items Needed for Your Food Drive
Lutheran Community Services has 2 chairs, a table, collection boxes and “stats” signs for you to use
at your collection site. To check them out from the LCS main office, please call 302-654-8886, ext
107 and arrange for pick-up. The signs have statistics about LCS’s services and are meant to
encourage support and food donation. Please display them at your Food Drive.
Step 6: To Do After the Food Drive Ends
At the end of your Food Drive, please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and
throw out all expired items. It's unlikely you will have expired items if your Food Drive was at a
store but please check anyway. Then sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut
butter, canned fruits/veggies, pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous.
Count up what’s collected and make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, plastic containers or sturdy
bags.
Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 to coordinate delivery of donated
food and to return chairs, table and signs.
Step 7: Wrap-Up
Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is important
to the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go well? Did you
experience any problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process.
Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.
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Hosting a Virtual Food Drive via FACEBOOK
Utilizing Social Media is an excellent and creative way to host a virtual Food Drive.
You could use your home or church for the location and send the “event” from your
Facebook account to your friends and family.
Facebook users…..
Step 1: Create a Facebook Event and invite your Facebook friends. Set the Food Drive collection
dates and times. Think of times and days when you will reach the most people. Many people run
errands on weekend mornings so that may be a good time.
For example: Saturday and Sunday, November 12 & 13, 2012 between 11 am and 2 pm. Include
information about Lutheran Community Services, and its Mission, what you are collecting and the
need for food to meet the community needs.
Step 2: Send reminders about your Food Drive Event a few days before your Food Drive and on the
day before. This will give people time to prepare.
Step 3: Marketing your Food Drive event:
During the day(s) of your Food Drive, to encourage participation:
Send reminders about the Food Drive date, time and location including what you are
collecting.
Photos of friends making donations or donated food.
Comments about Lutheran Community Services and its Mission.
Comments about Lutheran Community current statistics.
Comments regarding the need for food and how the donations would benefit the Community.
Step 4: Please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and throw out expired items.
Then try to sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits/veggies,
pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous. Count up what’s collected and
make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, plastic containers or sturdy bags.
Step 5: Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 to coordinate delivery of
donated food.
14
Step: 6: Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is
very important to the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go
well? Did you experience problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process.
Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.
Hosting a Food Drive at Your Work Site
This option offers clear advantages for the Food Drive Manager - the ability to reach many
people and the flexibility of a longer drive without having to sit at a table for collection the
donations.
It also offers the unique benefit for the Corporation, Company, Business or Organization hosting the
Food Drive to perform positive community outreach; it's a great marketing and public relations
opportunity.
Step #1: Receive written permission from your Company. Initially, check with your immediate
Manager but ultimate permission will likely to be provided by Community Relations, Human
Resources or a similar department. Also check if your employer offers and Matching Donation
Program. If so, you may want to collect monetary donations so that your company will match what's
donated from the employees. If not, you can ask you company if they will make a contribution or
donation in addition to employee contributions. Checks made payable to Lutheran Community
Services or LCS/
.
Step #2: If your company has multiple sites, it’s recommended the Food Drive Manager recruit
assistance from other employee(s) at those sites to assist with the logistics.
Step #3: Set the dates and times for the Food Drive. Within an organization or business, 1 to 2
weeks is a good time period to collect food donations.
Step #4: Get collection containers for the Food Drive and label them “Lutheran Community
Services Food Drive”. Small, sturdy, shallow boxes like the boxes paper reams are delivered in,
work well. Deliver the labeled boxes to the site(s) and set out in a common area open to all
employees.
Step #5: Marketing. Posters, group e-mails, and system-wide voice mails are great vehicles to reach
all employees but depending on company policies there may be restrictions for each. Inquire about
displaying posters and sending e-mails when you receive permission to host the Food Drive. Also, if
it’s a large company, there may be one individual responsible for sending groups e-mail or a systemwide voice mail, or you may need to contact an individual to learn how send the group e-mail, etc.
Step #6: Please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and throw out expired items.
Then sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits/veggies,
pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous. Count up what’s collected and
make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, containers or sturdy bags.
Step #7: Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 to coordinate delivery of
donated food.
Step #8: Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is
15
important to the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go well?
Did you experience any problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process.
Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.
Creating a Food Drive Theme at Your Birthday Party, Special Occasion
Party, or Holiday Event
At your next party ask your guests to bring food to donate. You’ll likely see that your family and
friends find the idea refreshing and generously contribute to the Food Drive.
For best results, make note of your intentions on the Party Invitation. State you are hosting a
Food Drive, list what type of food you are collecting, (see suggested food list on page 16) and that
the drive benefits Lutheran Community Services. Include information about LCS, its mission, and
why collecting food is
important and how it will benefit our neighbors in our Community.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Alternative and Creative Food Drives
Co- Host a Food Drive with a Business Organization
Because you are not the employee at the business, store or organization, your first step would be to
contact the Manager or Community Relations office to discuss a relationship and Food Drive. If
agreed, you would work with an employee at the business on all steps of the Food Drive. Follow
"FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE". This is an opportunity for Community Outreach for the
business.
Ask your Dentist or Doctor to Host a Food Drive in their Office
A busy doctor, dentist or orthodontist office would be a perfect place to host a food drive and
excellent place to reach many people. Although people would not arrive prepared with donations on
the day of their visit, they could return the day after or make a monetary donation to LCS* on the day
of their visit. Follow "FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE.” Please accept checks only, made
payable to Lutheran Community Services. This is an opportunity for Community Outreach for the
doctor, dentist or orthodontist. Likely, they will use this as a Marketing and Public Relations
opportunity
Host a Food Drive at a Local School, College or University
Students like to participate in causes and may offer to volunteer for your Food Drive. For
permission, begin with the Dean's Office. Follow "FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE" (pg.7)
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"Fill The Bag" Food Drive
Provide empty grocery bags to your family, friends, co-workers, doctor, hair dresser, dentist, fellow
church members and ask them to give them back to you filled within one to two weeks or a specified
date. In the bag, provide your Food Drive flyer with the details about Lutheran Community Services,
its mission, what type of food you are collecting, why collecting food is important and how it will
benefit our neighbors in our Community. Prior to providing the bag, contact everyone and ask if they
would participate in your Fill the Bag Food Drive. See the Sample Food Drive Flyer. You can
market it making it a Facebook event and when you receive your donations, post photos and
comments.
Create a Theme for Your Collection items
o "Pack it in for Protein" Collect for peanut butter and tuna fish.
o "Bringing Up Baby" Collect diapers, formula and wipes.
o "Italian Night" Collect pasta and sauce.

!!!
Pass it on – After you've completed your Food Drive, ask a family member or friend
to host a Food Drive on behalf of Lutheran Community Services.
What to do with your donations….
The collected donations can be made to Lutheran Community Services in celebration or honor of the
individual’s birthday, graduation, communion, bat mitzvah, etc.
After the party, please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and throw out expired
items. Then sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits/veggies,
pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous. Count up what’s collected and
make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, containers or sturdy bags.
Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 coordinate delivery of donated
food.
Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is important to
the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go well? Did you
experience any problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process.
Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.
17
Foods We Can Use
Canned Spaghetti/Ravioli
Soups/Stews/Ramen Noodles
Canned Tuna/Salmon or Ham
Rice
Canned Chili/Pork & Beans
Baby Food
Spaghetti Sauce/Tomato Sauce
Peanut Butter
Canned Beans/Peas/Corn and Other Vegetables
Pancake Mix
Dry Pasta/Beans
Boxed Macaroni/Cheese Hamburger Helper/Tuna Helper