How to Organize a Donation Drive

Helping a charity is a very rewarding experience. These organizations rely heavily on volunteers to assist with their mission, and, donation drives serve as a great way to generate awareness and raise money. Our junk removal and hauling service donates up to 40% of our collected items. Junkgarbageremoval.com donates our pristine contents to charity organizations and local families in our neighborhoods. If you are involved with a charitable entity, organizing a donation drive is a great service. It's not only rewarding, but also, helps you to hone your leadership and project management skills. A donation drive will also allow you to meet new people and perhaps, recruit more volunteers.
 

How to Organize a Donation Drive

Hosting a donation drive isn't something that's done overnight, or, even a few days. It takes a lot of forethought, planning, and of course, organization, to make it worthwhile. You'll certainly learn a lot in the process and grow as a person. What's more, you'll get an inside look of the organization and be able to appreciate all it does for those it serves.

Many of us have more than what we really need. In India, it’s a common tradition to give old clothes, leftover food, old notebooks, boxes etc to domestic helps. Sometimes to the extent that the maids are getting excess of what they need and there are so many other needy families that can benefit from our old things. --Volunteer Weekly.org

This enormous undertaking doesn't have to be overwhelming. In fact, it can be fun, if you are prepared and ready to accept the challenge it poses. When it's time to begin the planning and execution, you'll need to follow these steps:

1. Give it a catchy name. There's a reason that most charitable events have a catchy name and/or slogan. It not only tells the community what it's about but entices them to get involved and attend. Create a central theme and use it in the promotion materials and efforts.
2. Recruit volunteers. The more people who are involved, the more successful the donation drive will be, and, the smoother it will run. Speak with co-workers, family, friends, neighbors, and anyone else you know to get them involved in the drive. It's best not to just assign people to positions and task, but rather, put them where their talents will do the most good.
3. Promote the event everywhere. Print flyers and distribute them far and wide. Malls and grocery stores are great places to distribute flyers, but there are other places to do so. Go to local community organizations, faith-based organizations, local libraries, and more to spread the word.
4. Tell the local media in advance. Once you have a date, time, and location, you should contact local media outlets. Give them behind the scenes access and openly speak about expectations and goals. This is a great way to get free advertising!
5. Setup and drop-off and collection site. You'll need a dedicated drop-off and collection site, as well as coordinate donation pickups. Have a few people at the drop off location to help take-in donations and thank donors personally.

When the event is over and you begin to sort through the various items, you'll probably find quite a bit that the organization can't accept. Call a junk hauling and removal service to pickup what can't be accepted. Ring 800-737-5923 or visit Pro Junk Dispatch for more information.