You Can Help Us Find Food Drop-off Points

 

QUESTIONS for (other) SHELTERS to potentially donate food to:

(Since most shelters already receive funding for food, they are a lower priority for our aid.)

 

(1.) Is there someone on site, a member of your staff, or a client who would be willing to accept deliveries from 10-11pm?  If not, which days and times do you accept deliveries (proceed to tell them that we currently only have the capacity to make deliveries to them in the evenings, but that we will make a note of them for possible future deliveries when we begin collecting and delivering other foods during the daytime).  

(2.) (GRACEFULLY) ask if you could see where they store both perishable and non-perishable foods so that you can get an idea of how much they can store, and how much food they actually use or need versus throw away after we deliver.

 

(3.) How often do you receive other food donations?  What kinds of food are typically donated to your establishment?

(4.) Do you have any suggestions to give on our newly forming non-profit organization?

(5.) We have a list of local shelters that was given to us.  Could you share with us your experience of why some are not included on this list?  Do you have any suggestions for us or questions we should remember to ask when considering donating food to shelters or other distribution points? (See Leilani Lukela: leilani@helpinghearts.us, (714-501-7728)

(6.) Do you have any other ideas that would help our charitable group in this infant stage of its development?

(7.) What kinds of sources do you folks get your funding from?  Do you have any suggestions on how we can go about getting financial support? 

(8.) On average, how many people would you say you guys house on any given day?

 

(9.) Can your shelter really use the food, or could you recommend another shelter, church, community center, or distribution point that may need it?  Even if they can use the food, ask this question anyway and assure them that we have plenty of food for everyone.

 

(10.)  If the shelter has any “confidential/ secret locations,” that could use the food, our volunteers can drop it off at the administrative office between 10-11:15pm in the evening providing that a staff member could be on site (either working or who would be willing to meet us) to accept and store our delivery of food to be served the following day. If there is no feasible way for us to drop off the food at the administrative office (or wherever is best for you, so long as all of our volunteers would be able to deliver it to that location without having to be put through any kind of clearing process), we would be more than happy to pre-package the food at the restaurant and have it ready for pick-up just outside the main Souplantation entrance at around 9:45pm: Sun.-Thurs., or 10:45pm  Fri.-Sat.(for any willing member of your staff (or a member participating in one of your assistance programs.