Tips For Collecting Donations
DID YOU KNOW? 25 lbs of food = approximately 19 meals?!
Snowflake Benefit Pageant Contestants are required to donate a minimum of $50 and/or 25 pounds of food to Oregon Food Bank as part of their competition score. Contestants who donate the minimum required amount of $50 and/or 25 pounds of food will receive the full 10% credit towards their age division total pageant scores. Amounts over $50 or 25 pounds count towards Fundraising Titles and/or Supreme Titles. Additional points will be scored at 1 point for every $1 in cash and 2 points for every pound of food donated.
I've never collected donations before. Can you give me some tips?
On-line Fundraising
To make it easy for contestants to fundraise, we have created an online team page at the Oregon Food Bank where a contestant can sign up and then have their friends and families easily send monetary donations in the contestant's name. We will also be accepting cash and checks made out to Oregon Food Bank during check in the day of the pageant. Donation points will be scored at 1 point for every $1 donated whether online or in person. Online donations MUST be made using the Snowflake Team Page no later than 3 days before the pageant in order to count towards Fundraising totals. Anything posted online after that will be appreciatated by Oregon Food Bank but will not count towards a contestant's overall score.
In-Person Money and Food Collecting
Collecting donations can be a lot of fun if you are prepared and have a positive attitude. Be ready to hear "no" a lot, but don't let it discourage you. It makes the "yes" feel even more rewarding when you do hear it.
A traditional method of collecting cash and food donations for the Food Bank is to do it in person. We will be accepting food donations during check-in on the day of the pageant only. We do not have a way to accept food prior to that day. You are more than welcome to start collecting non-perishible food items long before pageant day, but you will need to find your own way to store those items until we can collect them on March 4. After the inital 10 points for a contestant's required minimum donation, points will be scored at 2 points for every 1 pound of food and 1 point for every dollar donated. Here are some tips for collecting food items and/or cash in person:
Safety first! When you go out to collect donations, whether it's to chat with business owners, set up a donation table at an event, or knock on doors, please keep these safety tips in mind. 1) Always take a buddy. If you are a child, your buddy should be an adult. They do not have to collect donations with you, but they should still tag along to keep an eye on your safety. 2) No matter how nice a homeowner may seem, always wait outside for a donation. 3) If you go after dark, wear light clothes or reflective gear to make it easier for cars to see you.
Dress appropriately. You are representing Snowflake Benefit Pageant and Oregon Food Bank. Please have a groomed appearance and dress according to the occasion.
Speak confidently. Be prepared to speak clearly, get your initial point across quickly and answer questions. It's okay if you don't know all the answers, just do your best with a positive attitude. Small children should do as much of the asking and talking themselves as possible, so parents might want to have them practice a few times before you go out.
Offer receipt confirmation. We recommend printing out our Donation Form, putting a few copies on a clipboard and taking a pen. This way you can offer to have Oregon Food Bank send a receipt directly to the donor for their tax deductible contribution. Not everyone will want a receipt, but most people will appreciate the offer. All checks should be made out to Oregon Food Bank.
Stay positive. Most people will be polite even if they say "no" but there is a possibility that you will come across some people who do not understand what you are doing and can be very rude. Do not take it personally. Just thank them for their time and move on.
Be respectful. If someone has a "No Soliciting" sign, please do not knock on their door or go into their business. They have those signs up for a reason. If the lights are off at a home, assume they are not there or sleeping. And please do not go to homes after 8pm. That's when many children are put to bed.
Once you get the hang of it, you may discover a new talent that you really enjoy! Have fun!