Neighborhood Coordinators
Here's What You Need To Know
Neighborhood Coordinators (NCs) are the heart of the project and the link between Food Donors and local pantries. NCs organize their neighborhood by communicating with donors, sending reminders before Pickup Day, collecting filled Green Bags from porches, and bringing the donations to our collection site. From there, Pickup Day Volunteers sort and organize the food before distributing it to our pantry partners. It’s a simple but powerful role that helps ensure a steady supply of food for local families. It’s also a great way to connect with neighbors around a shared passion for giving back to the community.
Frequencly Asked Questions
What does a Neighborhood Coordinator do?
NCs organize a small group of neighbors to be Food Donors. Each donor gets a green bag and materials on how the project works. Every two months, you pick up their full bags, leave an empty one for next time, and bring all the bags to our collection site, where volunteers receive and sort it.
How do I pick my Neighborhood?
Your “neighborhood” is wherever you say it is, and it’s as big or small as you want it to be. It can be a few houses, a whole street, or several blocks. The most important thing is that it’s a sustainable number for you. One of the benefits of being an NC is that you’ll wind up with a better sense of where you live and who your neighbors are!
How do I recruit my neighbors to be food donors?
Most NCs start by asking friends and neighbors nearby. If they want to expand further, they can canvass their neighborhood by knocking on doors, or post in a neighborhood Facebook or social group to spread the word. We have a resource kit designed to help NCs get started!
Other Questions
How much food will people donate?
We suggest that Food Donors buy one extra nonperishable food item each week when they go to the supermarket, but it’s really up to them. Some folks will donate a lot, some a little. The amount is not important—as long as they’re participating, the Food Project is a success. Bonus: We’ll supply reminders for you to send your donors, so they remember to leave a bag.
When are Pickup Days?
Pickup Days are always on the third Saturday of odd-numbered months (January, March, etc). NCs can drop off the collected bags anytime in the morning between 9-12.
What happens on Pickup Day?
Each Food Donor puts their green food bag out by their front door. You pick up each bag, leave an empty one and a “Thank-you”/next Pickup Day reminder card (which we’ll supply), and take the food to our drop-off point. Food bank volunteers will be there to receive, weigh, and sort it. When we get a total weight for the entire pickup, we’ll let you know so you can let your Food Donors know how much of an impact the Food Project, and their work, is having.
What's the time commitment like?
Only an hour or two every other month! You might need to put a little more time in at the beginning, when you’re building your neighborhood. But it’s a surprisingly small time commitment, considering how big a difference you’ll be making.
Can you have a co-NC?
Absolutely! We actually encourage you to work with one of your Food Donors so that all of the bags are picked up if you can not make a Pickup Day. Plus its more fun!
What if I can't make a Pickup Day
That’s ok! We will always have a number of substitute drivers on deck that will collect your food donors bags and leave new ones. You just have to let us know at least one week in advance.