Comments on: Food Banks Beating the Fundraising Odds in a Tough Economy http://www.stepbystepfundraising.com/food-banks-economy/ Fundraising Resources for Non Profit Organizations Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:33:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kate http://www.stepbystepfundraising.com/food-banks-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-49707 Kate Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:43:26 +0000 http://stepbystepfundraising.com/?p=3474#comment-49707 I really admire those people who don't even have a second thought of helping others when in times of need. I hope that everybody, including me, will participate on any programs for the welfare of the society. I really admire those people who don’t even have a second thought of helping others when in times of need. I hope that everybody, including me, will participate on any programs for the welfare of the society.

]]> By: Walter http://www.stepbystepfundraising.com/food-banks-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-48505 Walter Mon, 07 Jun 2010 02:28:06 +0000 http://stepbystepfundraising.com/?p=3474#comment-48505 I'm glad to know that this fund drive continued to be successful. It only means that many people are willing to help the those less fortunate people who are in need. I’m glad to know that this fund drive continued to be successful. It only means that many people are willing to help the those less fortunate people who are in need.

]]> By: Sandra Sims http://www.stepbystepfundraising.com/food-banks-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-44657 Sandra Sims Mon, 26 Apr 2010 18:42:48 +0000 http://stepbystepfundraising.com/?p=3474#comment-44657 Elianna - It's amazing how much more food can be purchased through cash donations and donations from companies. That's a great video...really drives the point home! Elianna – It’s amazing how much more food can be purchased through cash donations and donations from companies. That’s a great video…really drives the point home!

]]> By: Elianna Bootzin http://www.stepbystepfundraising.com/food-banks-economy/comment-page-1/#comment-44641 Elianna Bootzin Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:02:20 +0000 http://stepbystepfundraising.com/?p=3474#comment-44641 I think food banks do great work, too, and I'm glad that they've been successful in securing the funds they need to keep working and to work harder in this economy. Full disclosure, though, I work for a food bank. And part of what the food bank I work for thinks of as "effectiveness on mission" is providing a huge cost savings over retail purchasing. Canned food drives just can't provide that savings...because even if the money's not coming out of our budget, it's still money the community has spent. But that doesn't mean that we purchase (much) food either - we could leverage the community's buying power into slightly lower prices but even that's not low enough for us. The financial efficiencies of food banking arise from channeling food industry donations - massive quantities of product that one or ten or twenty pantries couldn't handle by themselves. With careful attention to how they operate, food banks can distribute 5-10 pounds of food for every dollar of expenses. And you just can't beat that. If that was too dry and you'd rather hear a more engaging pitch, check out <a href="http://cashfeedsmore.org/video_rap.html">Cash Man's rap video</a>. I think food banks do great work, too, and I’m glad that they’ve been successful in securing the funds they need to keep working and to work harder in this economy.

Full disclosure, though, I work for a food bank. And part of what the food bank I work for thinks of as “effectiveness on mission” is providing a huge cost savings over retail purchasing. Canned food drives just can’t provide that savings…because even if the money’s not coming out of our budget, it’s still money the community has spent. But that doesn’t mean that we purchase (much) food either – we could leverage the community’s buying power into slightly lower prices but even that’s not low enough for us.

The financial efficiencies of food banking arise from channeling food industry donations – massive quantities of product that one or ten or twenty pantries couldn’t handle by themselves. With careful attention to how they operate, food banks can distribute 5-10 pounds of food for every dollar of expenses. And you just can’t beat that.

If that was too dry and you’d rather hear a more engaging pitch, check out Cash Man’s rap video.

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