Service Project Ideas for Schools, Youth Groups or Summer Camps:

• Food Drive and Field Trip: Have a food drive and deliver the food to the Food Bank and receive a “behind the scenes tour” of the warehouse.  It is amazing to see.

• Empty Bowls: Kids create ceramic bowls in the art studio and raise awareness of hunger by selling them to parents or other community members to raise money for the Food Bank.  Kids can also host a meal using the “Empty Bowls” to raise awareness of hunger; sell tickets to the meal and offer the bowls as a gift to take home.

• Kids work together to reduce the amount of food waste at every camp or school meal by collecting the scrap food, weighing it, and announcing the results.  Non-perishable food that isn’t used at the end of the summer can de donated to a local meal site or food pantry.

• Does your camp or program have a talent show or other event for parents or community members?  Let parents know that they can bring food donations or money to help the Food Bank, and have the MC of the event talk about the service and learning the kids have done.

• Some schools and camps grow vegetable gardens.  Grow an extra row to donate to a local food pantry.  Kids can also cook up cookies or a meal to donate to a local meal site.  Call the Food Bank for the meal site or pantry closest to you.

• Volunteering at a food pantry or meal site in your local community can be a great way for kids to get involved.  Call The Food Bank for a location near you.

• 24-hour fast: older kids can participate in a full-day fast to raise awareness and money to fight hunger.  Participants ask families and friends to sponsor them for each hour of the fast and donate the money raised to The Food Bank to buy food for people in need.  The day of the fast can be spent doing activities to learn about hunger or to spread awareness to others while kids are experiencing first hand what it feels like to go without food.

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