Fundraising Tips

  • Write a personal note of thanks to each sponsor. This will be particularly helpful when you ask for their support in the following year.
  • Plan an event! Set up a fundraiser in town at your local pub, drink Harpoon, have a raffle and auction, you could have a date auction, a party at your house, set up a bike ride… be creative! 
  • Ask local community groups such as churches and rotary clubs to support you. Make a presentation at their next meeting and hand out pledge forms.
  • In lieu of gifts on your birthday or other occasion, ask friends and family to make a pledge to your ride.
  • When you ask someone to donate to charity, you are giving them an opportunity to do something good for others, and, in turn, feel good about themselves. 

 Start early and have fun!

 

VERMONT HUNGER FACTS

  • During the last quarter of 2011, the Vermont Foodbank served nearly 90,000 individuals, the highest number of people served in Foodbank’s 26 year history.

  • 27,160 Vermont children struggle with hunger each year.

  • Last year, the Foodbank distributed more than 8 million pounds of food, the most in our 26-year history.

  • 25,000 Vermont children must rely on food shelves and meal sites to access sufficient food to lead a healthy lifestyle.
  • The Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, serving communities in all 14 counties of Vermont through a network of 280 food pantries, soup kitchen, shelters, senior centers and after-school programs. 
  • In 2011, the Harpoon Point To Point raised more than $121,487 – which provided more than 485,00 pounds (242 tons) of food or more than 728,922 meals to Vermonters in need. In the ten year history of this event, $446,869 has been raised for the Vermont Foodbank. That is 2,681,214 meals!
  • In 2010, the VTFB distributed nearly 7.6 million lbs of food to as many as 86,000 Vermonters in need.
  • More than 8,200 different people receive emergency food assistance in any given week in Vermont.
  • For every $10 donation the Foodbank can acquire and distribute 40 pounds of food, the equivalent of nearly 60 meals.
  • The mission of the Vermont Foodbank is to gather and share quality food and nurture partnerships so that no one in Vermont will go hungry.