What to Buy for a Food Bank Food Drive

A food bank drive needs more than donation boxes. You will need a clear way to collect, weigh, sort, label and move donations, plus basic supplies for volunteers working at the venue. Use the shopping list below to prepare the collection points, sorting stations and handover area. Buy or gather the practical items early, especially crates, roll containers, labels, power supplies and transport equipment, because these are easy to overlook and difficult to replace on the day.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 20
Folding table for registration
Shelving unitsqty 4
Roll containersqty 6

Equipment

Platform scale
Hand trucksqty 2
Power stripsqty 3
Extension cordsqty 3
Label printer
Power banksqty 2

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Coolersqty 2
Kitchen knivesqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 2

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 30
Reusable platesqty 30
Cutlery setsqty 30
Serving plattersqty 6
Pouring jugsqty 4

Catering

Cardboard collection boxesqty 80
Plastic cratesqty 30
Paper carrier bagsqty 100
Reusable shopping bagsqty 30
Barrier tapeqty 2
Palletsqty 6
Groceries
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 6 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Lemon juice - 2 bottles
- Cookies - 8 packs
- Muesli bars - 60 pieces
- Bananas - 6 kilograms
- Apples - 6 kilogram
- Sandwich rolls - 60 pieces
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cheese - 3 kilograms
- Cucumber - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 4 kilogram
- Water - 8 crates
- Sparkling water - 3 crates
- Cola - 3 bottles
- Cola Zero - 3 bottles
- Orange juice - 12 cartons
- Apple juice - 12 cartons
- Ice cubes - 10 bags
- Paper napkins - 500 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 4 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 3 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Nitrile gloves - 10 boxes
- Face masks - 100 pieces
- Labels - 500 pieces
- Permanent markers - 20 pieces
- Ballpoint pens - 30 pieces
- Tape - 12 rolls
- Shipping labels - 100 pieces
- Paper registration forms - 200 pieces
- Binders - 4 pieces
- Staples - 2 boxes

Decorations

Collection bannersqty 3
Directional arrowsqty 12
Information boardsqty 8
Chalkboardsqty 4

Lighting

Work lightsqty 4

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Broom setsqty 2
Hand brushes and dustpanqty 3
Microfiber clothsqty 12
Cleaning glovesqty 12

Tips

Plan at least one collection box for each public drop-off point, then keep extra cardboard boxes available for overflow. Label boxes by donation type before doors open so volunteers do not have to sort everything from scratch.
Use plastic crates for smaller or heavier donations and reserve pallets or roll containers for full loads. A hand truck is useful once a crate or box becomes too heavy to carry safely by hand.
Set up a registration table with a label printer, power strip and extension cord. Keep spare labels and at least one power bank nearby in case the printer or phone used for registration runs out of power.
Provide one reusable cup per volunteer and enough hot-drink capacity for the busiest shift. Two kettles or coffee machines and several thermos flasks reduce queues when many volunteers arrive at once.
Bring directional arrows, collection banners and barrier tape before the first delivery arrives. Mark the route from the entrance to the sorting stations so donated goods do not block registration or volunteer access.

Frequently asked questions

What should I buy for a food bank food drive?: Start with collection boxes, plastic crates, labels, a label printer, a platform scale and transport equipment such as hand trucks or roll containers. Add barrier tape, directional signs, reusable bags and refreshments for volunteers. Buy the core collection and labelling supplies at least 3 to 5 days before the drive.
How many food collection boxes do I need?: Allow one box for each planned collection point, plus 20% extra capacity for busy periods. For example, five collection points require at least six boxes, with spare crates or boxes ready for overflow.
How many crates are needed for a food donation drive?: Prepare enough crates for one full sorting cycle plus 25% spare capacity. For a drive using 20 active crates, keep at least 5 additional crates available for damaged, full or incorrectly sorted donations.
When should I prepare the food drive supplies?: Check and group all materials 2 to 3 days before the event, including labels, power cables, signs and transport equipment. Bring boxes, crates and sorting supplies to the venue before volunteer briefing starts, ideally 60 to 90 minutes before collection opens.

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