For years, virtual food drives have given hosts a simple way to bring their networks together and help provide nutritious food for neighbors facing hunger. Today, we’re excited to introduce a new and improved virtual food drive experience, built on the same drag-and-drop format supporters already know and love, now made easier, more interactive, and more rewarding for everyone involved.
Whether you're hosting your first drive or you've hosted many, here's what's new.
Why Virtual Food Drives Matter in San Diego County
We help provide food to about 400,000 San Diegans each month, and roughly one in four county residents experiences nutrition insecurity, according to the San Diego Hunger Coalition. Virtual food drives give anyone a way to turn their network into meals, with no collection bins, drop-offs, or heavy lifting. Funds raised through virtual food drives support our seasonal campaigns, including Holiday Food Drive, Spread the Love, and Summer Food Drive
What's New on the Virtual Food Drive Platform
A Simpler Setup for Hosts
The new platform was purpose-built with hosts in mind. Streamlined navigation and a more intuitive design mean you can create a drive, invite others, and track your progress in a few clicks. It works across all devices, so you can manage your drive wherever you are. Built-in sharing tools make it easy to spread the word by email, text, and social media.
The Virtual Red Barrel, Now More Interactive
At the heart of every drive is our virtual red barrel, the online version of the red barrels you'll find at in-person food drives. Supporters browse the foods neighbors need most, drag them into the barrel, and watch their impact grow in real time. The drag-and-drop experience is still here, now more visual and easier to use.
Custom Pages and Fundraising Goals
Make your drive your own. Add a photo or logo and a personal message about why you're hosting, then set a goal to rally your supporters around.
Team Fundraising and Matching Gifts
New team fundraising tools let coworkers, classmates, teammates, or neighbors work toward a shared goal, with a little friendly competition along the way. For workplaces, the platform supports matching gifts, so employee contributions can go even further. Many employers match charitable gifts, and you can check whether yours does through our matching gifts search tool.
How Far Your Virtual Food Drive Donation Goes
Because we purchase food in bulk and work with strong procurement partners, we pay significantly less than retail prices. That means every $1 donated through a virtual food drive helps provide 2 meals for neighbors in our community. A drive that raises $250, for example, grows into 500 meals.
Our platform is built to reflect our bulk purchasing power item by item, so your virtual barrel shows what your gift can look like on a neighbor's table.
How to Start a Virtual Food Drive
- Create your drive. Visit vfd.sandiegofoodbank.org and set up your page in a few steps.
- Make it yours. Add your message and goal, and invite teammates if you're fundraising as a group.
- Share your link. Send it to friends, family, coworkers, and your wider community.
- Track your impact. Watch your barrel fill and your progress grow toward your goal.
Start a Drive for the Holiday Food Drive
The new platform arrives just in time for our 46th annual Holiday Food Drive. Virtual food drives are one of the easiest ways for workplaces, schools, and families to take part this season, and every drive started now helps stock our shelves through the holidays and into the coming months.
Ready to get started? Setting up a drive takes just a few minutes, and the meals it provides last much longer. Invite your network, set a goal, and help provide nutritious food for neighbors across San Diego County. Prefer to collect food in person? You can also host a traditional food drive.