One Can-a-Week
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One in 6 metro Detroiters don't know where their next meal is going to come from. If we don't do something soon, that number will rise to 1 in 3 in the next three years. At United Way we are working on long-term changes like increasing utilization of current programs and working to improve the food delivery system as a whole so that it can best meet this growing crisis. But we also recognize the urgent need to provide immediate relief. What can be done to provide immediate relief? Imagine if every household in your neighborhood donated one can of food, every week, to your local food pantry. Would anything change? Would there be less hunger in metro Detroit? If you look at the One Can-a-Week program created by one neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona, the answer is yes. The Miles Neighborhood collects contributes 100+ pounds of food weekly to their local food pantry through the One Can-a-Week program.
What is One Can-a-Week? One Can-a-Week is a weekly, neighborhood food donation and collection program. Unlike a typical, one-time food drive, One Can-a-Week organizers visit their neighbors weekly to collect food for local community food banks. One Can-a-Week is a bigger commitment than your typical food drive, but the benefits are much greater as well. Not only does your neighborhood program provide your local food bank with a sustainable source of donations, but the program helps you develop long-term relationships with your neighbors. And studies show that neighborhoods with strong community organizations are safer to live in and have higher property values. It’s important to note that the key to the One Can-a-Week program’s success is an organizer, or a group of organizers, who are willing to collect the food weekly. Programs that utilize designated drop-off locations are not nearly as successful and rarely sustainable. Start a One Can-a-Week program in your neighborhood Modeling the program started in the Miles Neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona, United Way has created a set of materials to help you start - and sustain - a One Can-a-Week program in your neighborhood. Everything you need from program overview to flyers to business cards is ready for you to use. Using these materials and the tools available to your on our LiveUnitedSEM.org website, you can be on your way to tackling hunger in metro Detroit in just a few hours.
Download the Program Overview to get started. If you have questions, call United Way's volunteer center at 313-226-9200 for assistance. While we can’t organize your neighborhood program for you, we have specialists on hand |
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