Feeding McKinney: Quarterly Community Food Drive 11/4/22

We are pleased to announce the first in a series of quarterly Community Food Drives!

Our McKinney non-profits that work with our friends and neighbors in need of food could use our help in stocking their shelves.

What has changed in the last few months that has brought us to this point?

• The North Texas Food Bank is having difficulties both obtaining food, and obtaining food at a reasonable price.

• Everyone has been affected by the rising costs over the last year.

• Monthly rental amounts have skyrocketed, with increases in multiple hundreds of dollars per month very common.

• As we have all experienced, all costs for a household are rising, with utilities, food, consumer goods, and gasoline topping the list of items that are affecting our friends and neighbors who are on the edge financially.

• Many national and state programs that can help with food insecurity have ended or been curtailed.

January and February are typically months where food donations decrease, causing further strain on the organizations that help our community. This drive will provide help to our friends and neighbors in need as we start the new year.

McKinney has a long history of coming together to help each other in times of crisis, and this is an opportunity to extend that tradition. As your families are purchasing food for holiday meals, this is a great time to help your friends and neighbors in need.

How can we all help?

We are seeking eight to ten faith congregations, places of worship, or businesses to lead our first quarterly food drive. In addition to members and employees participating in the food collection, each organization will be a collection point for others in the community that want to help.

We ask each organization to collect food through November 27. To help our non-profits with consistent products, we ask that donated foods be from the list below and in the suggested size ranges:

• Canned Meat (chicken, beef, tuna, etc.) – 16 oz maximum

• Canned Soup (beef stew, chili, chicken noodle, vegetable, etc.) – 16 oz maximum

• Peanut Butter and Jelly (no glass please) – 16 oz maximum

• Cereal (especially kid friendly) – small boxes or bags, including single servings

• Mac + Cheese (cups or boxes)

• Canned pasta (spaghetti o’s, ravioli, etc.) – 16 oz maximum

• Ramen – (cups or packages)

• Breakfast items

  • Instant oatmeal – 2 pound max, boxes or single servings

  • Baking mixes or complete pancake / waffle mix – 2 pound maximum

  • Syrup (remember, no glass please!) – 16 oz maximum

  • Pop tarts – any sized box

• Canned fruits and vegetables – 16 oz maximum

• Instant potatoes – small boxes

• Canned Beans (black, refried, pinto, baked, etc.) 16 oz maximum

• Masa or flour – 5 pounds maximum

We ask that you do not donate food in glass containers, as they are most subject to breakage during collection and delivery. Important note! With the recent opening of Community Garden Kitchen, we can accept large #10 cans of food as well as the sizes listed above.

It would be a huge help for each organization to sort the products by type, as that would save each of the food pantries a great deal of effort. Community Lifeline Center has graciously agreed to use one of their warehouses to store the donated items. We ask that each location deliver the food to the CLC warehouse (901 North McDonald St, Suite 903, McKinney) the week of November 28 through December 2. Food will then be distributed to local nonprofits as quickly as they can take it in.

We are asking people who would like to help to purchase goods at the store. Please be mindful of expiration dates, aiming for three months or more prior to expiration for food that is donated. Many families in McKinney use events such as this as a teaching opportunity for their children or grandchildren, to explain they are buying food to help families who do not have enough to eat.

It is likely that some people will find it difficult due to their circumstances to purchase and deliver the food, but would still like to contribute. One Heart McKinney has offered to be the collection point for monetary donations. To contribute, click here. In the pull-down under “My donation is for,” select “Feeding McKinney”. One hundred percent of the donations collected will go toward this effort.

Who will be receiving donated food and funds?

The donations will be received by local non-profits who address food insecurity such as: Community Food Pantry, Community Lifeline Center. Community Garden Kitchen, Fahma Humanitarian Organization, Iglesia del Nazareno, Little Free Pantry, Salvation Army, and St. Vincent de Paul.

How can receiving non-profits help?

• Provide one or two volunteers to help organize products in CLC warehouse.

• Pick up food at designated times, which will be determined as we get closer to the end of collection effort.

• Consider a small monetary contribution to help offset warehouse and transportation costs.

Contact Information

Questions regarding delivery and pick up of food:

• Misha Fung at Community Lifeline Center, mfung@communitylifeline.org, (972)542-0020

General questions regarding Feeding McKinney:

• Scott Elliott at One Heart McKinney, scott@oneheartmckinney.org, (469)636-3965

• Marcy Wilson at 3E United, marcy@3eunited.org, (469)631-0129