Organize a
Food Drive
Food drives bring in more than hundreds of thousands of pounds of food a year to Burlington Food Bank. Together, dozens of communities organize events, gather food, and deliver it to us to distribute among our clients. It’s incredible efforts from members of our community that help us to feed our neighbours.
Register Your Event
Food and fund drives provide Burlington Food Bank with the necessary resources to sustain our programs and ensure that a supply of food is available to those who may need it.
If you would like to organize a Food Drive on behalf of Burlington Food Bank, we encourage you to start by registering your event. This helps us to coordinate the physical resources, any food pick-ups needed, and the social media coverage to help you promote your event.
Event Tool Kit
We encourage you to run your own event in support of Burlington Food Bank, and we are happy to provide you with materials to help. Note: We would love to see how you use our logo and other images before you distribute them, so please send any collateral you have created to Stacey s.allencillis@burlingtonfoodbank.ca.
How to Run a Successful Community Event
If you’re running a food drive as your event, or as part of your event, there are sections on the Community Event Registration Form where you can let us know your goals, whether you need food collection bins, specially marked boxes, or a food pick-up.
1. Decide on a place and time
- Decide where you will be holding your event. Will it be it’s own event or part of a larger event?
- Will your event be held outside or inside? If you will be outside, what will you do if it rains?
- Will your event run over multiple days or be a one-day only?
- How long will your event run for? Will you accept donations past the end time?
- Do you have a place to store your food donations?
- We recommend that schools and offices place bins in a central area for collection.
- Don’t forget to ask about our school themed food drive kit.
2. Set goals for your event
- How much are you aiming to collect? Set a goal in pounds, or aim to fill a rolling bin, lobby, lunchroom, office, or corporate vehicle.
- Generating 100% participation is a great goal. Your event can be a team-building activity!
- We pick up collections greater than 300 pounds (about 30 grocery bags), but we always appreciate collections being dropped off at our warehouse.
- Schools and Community Groups, consider requesting our Theme Food Drive Kit in the notes section of your online event form.
- Consider sponsoring our Monthly Special to increase access to items that are not regularly donated.
3. Promote your community event
- Encourage people to donate our Top Ten Needed Food Items and check expiry dates.
- Tell people about your food drive, including your friends, co-workers, neighbours, and classmates.
- For corporate events, find out if your company will match food/monetary donations.
- Use facts about Burlington Food Bank.
- Advertise your food drive on Instagram, Facebook, or other social media sites. Be sure to tag us in your posts.
- Please register your event with us at least two weeks before, so we can offer any additional supports you’ve indicated in your registration form, including food pick up.
- Tag us on social media, or share your poster so we can add it to our website.
- Send us photos or videos from your event.
- Your description and formatting may be edited to fit our requirements.
4. Drop off your donations
Please bring your donations to:
1254 Plains Rd East, Unit 1A
Burlington, ON L7S 1W6
Monday – Friday 9:00AM – 3:00PM
Saturday 9:00AM – 11:30AM
Or, if you requested a pick-up of over 300 pounds on your registration form, arrangements will be made with you. Please note that financial donations CANNOT be dropped at fire halls. Bring them directly to BFB. Volunteer drivers are on routes Monday through Friday.
5. Follow up with your participants and donors
- Let everyone know about your success, either in an email, poster, or announcement.
- After we receive your donation, a thank-you letter or certificate will be sent to the event organizer. We encourage you to duplicate this letter to send it to your donors.
- Share your successes on social media.
Other Events
Need some inspiration? Browse our News & Events page for some other fundraising events happening in our community.
Panther Holiday Market
Panther Holiday Market Panther Holiday Market | Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 5pm – 9pm | 5151 Dryden Ave Kick off the Christmas season at Orchard Park Public School’s Holiday Market! Shop from over 20 local vendors, bid on items at the silent auction, capture memories at the festive photobooth
Aldershot Tree Lighting 2026
Aldershot Tree Lighting Aldershot Tree Lighting | Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 3:30pm – 6pm | Sun Country Plaza | 355 Plains Road East Join us as we kick off the holiday season and bring our community together for an afternoon filled with festive fun, music, laughter and holiday cheer! We will
AydensFoodDrive
Ayden’s Food Drive Ayden is a Burlington student who has made it his mission to give back! He has ran numerous food drives over the last year and is committed to raising $1000 for Burlington Food Bank! Help him reach his goal by donating here.
Growing Food
Donations of freshly grown fruits, vegetables and herbs are an incredible way to show your neighbours in need that they matter. There are a few different ways to get involved in this summer and help grow food for our community.