“TRICK OR TREAT SO OTHERS CAN EAT” (TOTSOCE), a countywide community service event organized by Ventura County 4-H to benefit FOOD Share, Ventura County’s food bank. TOTSOCE is simply a canned food drive with all donations directly benefiting individuals and families in need in Ventura County. Collection should take place between October 9th and November 9th and all food should be at Food Share by close of day on November 9th.
2012 marks the 16th year Trick Or Treat So Others Can Eat has been in action in the Ventura County community. In 2011, over 15 youth groups joined 4-H to collect over 6,500 lbs. of food. Thank you to AYSO, local Girl Scout Troops, Cal State University Channel Islands students and many others who made last year such a success; let's do it again this year! Our goal this year is 7,500 lbs. of food.
NEW FOR 2012
A new way to donate this year is Online Donations through the FOOD Share website. Friends and family can support your group's collection efforts with monetary donations that go a long way. Every $1 donated enables FOOD Share to purchase $5 worth of nutritious food!
GETTING STARTED
- TRICK OR TREAT SO OTHERS CAN EAT (TOTSOCE) volunteers register by emailing totsoce@gmail.com.
Be sure and Include in the email:
~ Organization if there is one (4-H club, youth group, sports team, etc.)
~ Contact Name
~ E-mail Address
~ Phone Number
~ Mailing Address
~ Number of Anticipated Participants
~ Established Goal of Pounds of Food Planned to Collect
~ Any Comments or Questions
- You will then receive their starter kit from the TOTSOCE leadership team via your personal e-mail which will include:
Donate Food Cards
Thank You Cards
HOW TO COLLECT
- Print door hangers and thank you notes out on BRIGHT ORANGE PAPER.
- Hang door hangers on front doors in designated neighborhoods 3-5 days in advance of your collection date (not in mailboxes, this is illegal). The door hanger contains information about TOTSOCE as well as the date on which the volunteer will return to collect the non-perishable food items (no glass please). This may be done anytime between October 9th and November 9th (i.e. after school, on a weekend, etc), or on Halloween or at a Halloween party.
- On the designated date (between October 9th and November 9th), youth volunteers return to the neighborhoods to collect the canned food. Residents can either give the donations to the volunteer when they come to the door or leave a box or bag on their porch with the flyer attached.
- “Trick-or-Treaters” can choose to go out individually or in groups, but everyone should dress in costumes OR in their appropriate youth uniforms (i.e. 4-H uniform, sports shirt, Scout uniform, etc.). REMEMBER: Have an adult with you at all times!
- Lastly, get the donations to FOOD Share by 4:00 November 9th. All groups should coordinate their donations at one location (i.e. a leader’s home, etc.) and then either deliver to FOOD Share’s warehouse (4156 Southbank Road, Oxnard) or call FOOD Share for a pick-up if your group has collected over 200 lbs - 805-983-7100 ext. 135.
CREATIVE WAYS TO COLLECT
- Go door-to-door in your neighborhood during the collection period October 9th to November 9th. (Be sure you always have an adult with you!)
- Organize a food drive at your school, church or employer. You can contact Food Share to have collection bins dropped off and picked up for donations over 200 lbs.
- Organize a food drive outside of a local grocery store (with their permission).
- Host a Halloween party and have friends bring canned food for admission!
TOTSOCE encourages volunteer involvement from local youth groups, clubs, church groups, service organizations, schools, sports groups, families, individuals, and anyone else that wishes to join in this effort! To join, visit our join page for complete details by clicking on the following join button.
LIKE Trick or Treat So Other Can Eat on Facebook HERE
For more information visit Trick_or_Treat_So_Others_Can_Eat online
