Ready to Help?

Schools, Businesses and Churches please complete the registration form by January 16, 2026. This allows us to both publish your drop-off location and schedule the box deliver.  

• School Registration Form
• Business Registration Form
• Church Registration Form

Restaurants, please fill out the form by January 23rd so there is time to advertise you as a participating restaurant.

• Restaurant Registration Form

Following your registration:

• You will be contacted with final details & instructions
• Provided with marketing materials

Questions? Contact melanie.dykstra@gilbertaz.gov

Who do you help?

AZCEND, City Hope, House of Refuge, Matthew's Crossing, Midwest Food Bank, St. Anne's Friends of the Needy, United Food Bank and Vineyard. 

2025 HUNGER HEROS! 

Site Collection Responsibilities: (School, Church, Business)

• Host boxes/or bins on site as provided by United Food Bank
• Promote to the community
• Have volunteers to help sort & remove any expired products
• Take a few photos to document the success!

The business, school, or church that collects the most food or raises the most funds will receive an editorial feature in an upcoming 2026 Gilbert City Lifestyle issue (Value $20K!).

Restaurants:

• Commit to a percentage of all customer sales being donated to the food drive effort
• Choose to donate from sales on Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday
• Encourage participation and advertise to your customers, area neighborhood, and employees
• Submit a few photos if possible, from during the event
• NEW - We are looking for a restaurant that would be interested in hosting an Autism/Special Needs restaurant friendly to help make the experience welcoming and accessible for individuals and families. Please note your interest on your registration form. 

The restaurant that collects the most funds will receive an editorial feature in an upcoming Gilbert City Lifestyle magazine (Value $20K!). There will be a guaranteed special feature for the first 12 restaurants that sign up to give a percentage of the funds for Friday/Saturday/Sunday of Feeding Families Weekend in the February 2026 issue as a special thank you.

• Food Drive Dates- Feb. 9-22
  • Schools – Feb. 9-20
  • Business – Feb. 9-20
  • Church – Feb. 21-22 (Optional Extra dates Feb. 14-15)
  • Restaurant – Feb. 20-22
• Council meeting recognition
  • March 4
  • RSVP by Feb. 25th - link coming soon
• Complete a survey
  • March 11
  • Link- coming soon
• Save the Dates – Next food drive
  • February 8-21, 2027

Here is a list of the most needed items at our local food pantries.

Items in Need:

• Canned protein (Chicken and Tuna)
• Peanut butter
• Squeezable jelly (No glass)
• Breakfast cereals (whole wheat, healthy preferred)
• Canned beans, vegetables and fruit
• Bags of Pasta and Rice
• Canned pasta (i.e. Ravioli)

All donated food items should be unopened, non-perishable and should not be past its expiration date. Please, no glass containers.

Please Note: The food drive is not able to accept Citrus fruit. However, AZCEND, City Hope, Matthew's Crossing and St. Anne's Friends of the Needy are able to accept direct donations.

Need Help?

Food Bank Search or Food Map

The Arizona Food Bank Network has a search engine (above link) that allows you to input your zip code and receive a comprehensive list of all resources in your area.

You can also access our local resource information here.