Trick or Treat so others can eat

WELCOME
to Ventura County's
TRICK OR TREAT so others can eat!

TRICK OR TREAT so others can eat (TOTSOCE) is a multiple community project organized by Ventura County 4-H and FOOD Share.

Volunteers for TOTSOCE collect cans of food and other nonperishable food items to benefit over 38,000 monthly clients of FOOD Share throughout Ventura County.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

TOTSOCE encourages volunteer involvement from local youth groups, clubs, church groups, service organizations, schools, sports groups, families, individuals, and anyone else that wishes to help!

Simply let us know that you would like to participate.  Downlaod the “STARTER KIT” and collect canned food and other non-perishable food items between October 20^th and November 9^th.

Join TRICK OR TREAT so others can eat!

To join TRICK OR TREAT so others can eat (TOTSOCE), receive email announcements, and updates please send us an email containing your:

Name
Organization
E-mail Address

Phone Number
Address
Number of Anticipated Participants
Any Comments or Questions

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SEND US AN EMAIL TO JOIN THE PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN ACCURATELY TRACK ALL VOLUNTEER INVOLVEMENT!

About TRICK OR TREAT so others can eat!

What do the volunteers do?

TRICK OR TREAT so others can eat (TOTSOCE) volunteers collect canned food and other non-perishable food items between October 20^th and November 9^th. They then deliver their collections to FOOD Share no later than Friday, November 14^th. (See below for other drop-off and pick-up options.)

Ways to have fun collecting!

Dress up and go trick-or-treating on October 31st – ask for canned food instead of candy! (hint: they usually give you candy too!)

Go door-to-door in your neighborhood during the collection period, Oct 20-Nov 9.

Organize a food drive at your school or church or employer. You can work with FOOD Share to have collection bins dropped off.

Organize a food drive outside of a local grocery store.

Contact Gold Coast Transit about a creative food drive with their buses!

How to get started!

Download and print the materials in the “STARTER KIT”

 For those going door-to-door and/or trick or treating:

·        A few days before collecting, distribute door hangers and flyers in your neighborhood. Be sure to write the date on which you will return on the door hangers.

·        On the designated date, return to collect the cans. Often your neighbors will simply leave a bag or box of donations on their porch with the bright orange flyer attached! This makes it very easy on collection day.

·        We strongly encourage volunteers to either wear Halloween costumes OR wear their service uniforms (i.e. girl/boy scout or 4-H uniforms) or school/service t-shirts. Something to identify your organization.

·        We also STRONGLY recommend that any participating youth volunteers go out in groups AND WITH AN ADULT. There is safety in numbers and those cans get very heavy.

·        Be sure to take a wagon or have a parent bring their vehicle.

·        Lastly, be sure to leave a “thank you note” (found in the Starter Kit) at each home that donated. It assures them that you received the donation.

Please remember to join TOTSOCE via email before you begin collecting!

What to do with the collections?

The collected canned food and other non-perishable food items can be dropped at the following locations:

Community West Bank in Westlake Village
951 Westlake Blvd 

Community West Bank in Ventura
1463 South Victoria Avenue

FOOD Share in Oxnard

 4156 Southbank Road

FOOD Share can also arrange a pick-up if your group collects a substantial amount of food (200+ pounds) Call, 805-983-7100 ext. 142 to arrange a pick-up.

If you have further questions, send us an email

Starter Kit

Below are PDF’s of the materials that you will need to successfully participate in TRICK OR TREAT so others can eat (TOTSOCE).

For most visibility copy the door hangers and thank you notes on BRIGHT/NEON ORANGE PAPER!

Note: All documents are in .pdf format. To view these files, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. To download the free software, click here.

Volunteer Letter

Door Hangers

Thank You Note

Food Drive Flyer

After you have signed up via email to volunteer with TOTSOCE, read the Volunteer Letter. The letter will tell you and your volunteers how TOTSOCE works.

Next, make copies of the Door Hangers on BRIGHT/NEON ORANGE PAPER.
(Hint: write your name and collection date on the original copy BEFORE making the orange copies so that you won't have to write it out  on each copy!)

Then make copies of the Thank You Notes on BRIGHT/NEON ORANGE PAPER. Make sure you always leave a note after making a pick-up to thank your neighbors for their donation!

If you have further questions, send us an email

You can also contact Lance Ferguson at lferguson@foodshare.com or call 805-983-7100 x135.