‘VIRTUAL FOOD DRIVE’

THE SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK IS SIMPLIFYING DONATIONS FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

The holidays will be very difficult this year for families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Widespread job loss coupled with business and school closures have combined to increase food insecurity among families in communities throughout San Diego County. Before the COVID-19 pandemic reached San Diego County, the San Diego Food Bank provided food assistance to, on average, 350,000 people per month – roughly 11% of the county’s population. Since mid-march, when the county declared a state of emergency, the Food Bank is now feeding an estimated 600,000 people per month due to the pandemic’s devastating impact on the local economy. “The Food Bank typically sees increased demand for our services over the holiday season. This year, with the impact of the pandemic, we are seeing skyrocketing demand for food assistance, especially from families who have never accessed our services before,” said James Floros, president and CEO of the San Diego Food Bank. The food bank is encouraging the community to use its Virtual Food Drive online giving platform to donate food for families in need this holiday season. Users can select food items from an online market, scan the items on a virtual checkout and pay securely with a credit or debit card. “The food bank’s Virtual Food Drive uses cutting-edge technology that enables donors to purchase food items virtually online via a thirdparty platform linked to the food bank’s website,” said Floros. “We are encouraging the community to donate food through our Virtual Food Drive because it’s an easy and efficient way for donors to give food to the food bank while saving overhead costs associated with traditional food drives that require driver time and gas for barrel deliveries and food pickups,” said Floros. According to the Floros, the Virtual Food Drive is an excellent platform for schools, businesses, and faith-based groups to donate. Food Bank staff can customize an organization’s Virtual Food Drive with a logo or graphic image that is included in the online market along with a short description about why the organization is hosting the food drive. The food bank then provides the group with a unique weblink to share with employees, supporters, or customers so they can shop for groceries and donate. “We can customize a Virtual Food Drive with an organization’s logo, set up internal competitions between departments, classes, and groups while giving food drive leaders the ability to monitor their organization’s progress online. This is definitely the future of giving food to food banks, and we have fully embraced this technology. We urge our supporters to check it out, and use our Virtual Food Drive to donate to the food bank this holiday season.

We are encouraging the community to donate food through our Virtual Food Drive because it’s an easy and efficient way for donors to give food to the food bank. James Floros, President & CEO, San Diego Food Bank

Users can select food items from an online market, scan the items on a virtual checkout and pay securely with a credit or debit card.