Is there any way to get free food for a school party?!
Some ideas that I'm not sure on:
- Is it possible to get a local restaurant to sponsor?
- Also, I was told by a friend that when he was in high school, he had a school organization go to a grocery store and ask if the grocers wanted to donate any food that they were overstocked with or wanted to throw away. Are there grocery stores that would be willing to do that for a college?
- Any other ideas will be welcomed!
Thanks again.
Answers: I'm the head organizer for a party for a club at my college, and I'm trying to find ways that I can get free food. The club will not be funding the party. There are about 40 or so people attending.
Some ideas that I'm not sure on:
- Is it possible to get a local restaurant to sponsor?
- Also, I was told by a friend that when he was in high school, he had a school organization go to a grocery store and ask if the grocers wanted to donate any food that they were overstocked with or wanted to throw away. Are there grocery stores that would be willing to do that for a college?
- Any other ideas will be welcomed!
Thanks again.
You might not get everything donated, but if you go to a bagel place or bakery they might give you what is left at the end of the day. I do a lot of workshops at our health club and the local bagel places usually give us 50 - 100 bagels from the end of the day. I then can put together a meat platter if using them for lunch or just variety of cream cheeses and butter if offering them for continental breakfast. Ask around at deli's, etc. Also, if you get the bagels, etc. donated you could ask for a $5 donation from each participant of the club towards the rest of the food, or have people sign up to bring things.
Most restaurants and stores would be willing to donate stuff if there was some charity involved not just people looking for freebies. Is there a way you can turn this into a food drive for the local food bank? Say each person attending the dinner bring an item for the food bank, maybe the businesses would kick in some food for the party and some for the charity. Places like to write off charitable donations and often allow for it.
Talk to the management at the dining hall, they might be willing to donate to on-campus student activities, also local places can be generous, especially if your school patronizes their places.
I played on the hockey team in college and we had to sell ad space for our yearbook. Places easily gave the $100 to buy ad space, food would probably cost them much less.
Also, you might want to try to raise funds by selling 50/50 raffles prior to the event. You can use your 50 to purchase food as well.
We got pasta and sauce donated by Olive Garden for a student-run staff appreciation lunch. I know that TGI fridays also donates.
Unfortunately some cities don't allow the distribution of left over food even to charities. Better to solicit money donations from sponsors and buy your food.
try pot luck. even a poor college student ( not trying to be mean but most are) could come up with something to bring. Divide the club up and have everyone bring something. We do this all the time for work parties.