Steps to Create Your Own ASG Program

A Home Food Donation Chapter may sound daunting, but we've helped dozens get up and running and there is one simple key;  just start.   It's both common and easy to overthink it, and the more that happens the more difficult it will feel.   Starting small with just a few friends, neighbors and co-workers is a great way to learn the ins and outs of the Operating System and how a program works.   

To get started, go to the Event Manager (www.asgeventmanager.com) and click the  register button.   You'll receive a welcome email and have a chance to complete the first part of your registration.   Send an email to info@Porch2Pantry.org to let us know you have registered.  

You'll then need some help to finish things up.  There is a "Admin Help Guide" in the green bar at the top of your webpage after you log in.   Click the Admin Help Guide  and you'll get step by step instructions to complete your registration. 

Here is something to keep in mind...  almost everyone wants to help others.  Nothing provides a deeper sense of accomplishment than knowing we have helped others.  It can be difficult finding a way to help.   Writing a check is easy, but not that fulfilling.  Filling up a bag and knowing someone will be using that food soon is gratifying.   

Many well respected authors have written about how to find happiness.   You'll find that in nearly all of them there is a strong element of giving something of ourselves to others.   The renowned Stephen Covey talks about the private give, because it's an internal feeling that has nothing to do with what others think about us.   Starting this program is a way to offer people that path.   And along the way, it's going to help tens of thousands of people to relieve food insecurity.   

The donor is the piece of gold that makes it all work.   Each donor is a big deal; A typical donor will donate an average of 15 pounds per event and will participate about 70% of the time, over a span that will average more than 5 years.    The value of that food will of course vary, the average we used is $2.80 (although this number needs more study).   We use 360 pounds at a value of $1008 ($2.80/lb) to represent the result of signing up one donor.   

The list below provides you with a variety of ways to build your donor base.   Each one includes a brief description, but the hyperlink (click each title) will take you to more detail.   In many cases you will find specific examples of marketing materials you can either use as is, or modify to your liking.    This list will continue to grow so check back here from time to time, looking for “updated” or “new” to see what might have changed since last time.  

Before taking on some of these events we would suggest you just network with your friends and neighbors.   We’ve learned the long term success of this progress is based on the connection between people, as you donate and you see others donate it encourages someone else to do the same.   By starting with people you are already connected with, you can also become more familiar with the Operating System and how it makes things easier.   Run a couple events this way then take on one or more of the events listed below.  

As you gain your own experiences, let us know!   Send screen shots, sample marketing materials and specific results.    We will add those in for others to use.  

Incentive Campaign/3rd Party Campaign:    One of our favorites because it's a great way to bring a high volume of donors to your program.  This approach uses a 3rd party's network of contacts, where they spread the word to ask their contacts to join your program.  In some cases you can create even more interest by offering that 3rd party a donation for each person that signs up. 

"Join Your Neighbor" Event:  This is great way to add donors to your already growing event.   You utilize your current donors as your 'credibility validation' by placing door hangers or brown bags on the neighbors surrounding your current donor's address.    The best way is to put the name of your current donor, asking them to "join in".    If they have questions they might ask your current donor.  Meanwhile, you inform your current donor that you've reached out to their neighbors, encouraging them to go over and explain the program.  

Canvassing:  Brown Bag Event and Door Hangers: for door to door canvassing (no direct solicitation) 

Music Festivals and Community Events: An ideal environment is where your community comes together in a positive way.   Perhaps nothing is more positive than music festivals.   A band stage is the perfect forum for a locally recognized person to make a passionate ask of the audience.   A mayor, band member, or Emcee tells everyone a team of volunteers will be walking around with bags, information cards, and a QR code.   They will assist in the signup and give them a bag for the 1st event.   

Tabletops:  in front of grocery stores, outside of a church, at a fair, or anywhere else you can set up a tabletop.   

Speaking at Clubs, Church's, and other Organizations:

• Booth at Fairs and another community events.
• Media, paid and free

Word-of-mouth

Please share your experiences with us so we can add those to our site.   

Once you've set up your chapter, determined your plans, and set up your team its time get into the work.  Here is a typical sequence you may experience;

• You'll start with one of the many Donor Sign Up methods listed further up, a few donors or lots of donors start to register
• You'll message to the donors or just talk to some of the ones you may know, asking for drivers.   They or you will modify their profile to be a driver.
• You'll call a local pantry or two and find out how happy they are people like you exist.
• You'll arrange your first event, selecting enough drivers to for a 1:25 ratio of donors per driver.  The P2P Event Manager will confirm the drivers.
• Meanwhile, the P2P Event Manager is communicating to your donor base, confirming their participation.
• You'll finish your first event!   This is a good time to think about finding a Brand Partner, you can demonstrate the great advertising they will received.  
•  You'll keep doing donor sign up events.   More people register.  You ask more people to drive.  
• After awhile you'll begin to see density (lots of donors near each other), so you'll ask a driver or two in that area if they want to be a Neighborhood Coordinator.    If they agree, you give them the Help Guide and work with them to set up their 'neighborhood pod'.  
• As more donors sign up, they may fall into an existing pod, if so the P2P Event Manager handles everything.   If they aren't in a pod they just continue on being handled by drivers using the Route Optimizer. 

This may all seem overwhelming.   Just start, and let the steps unfold.   If you are able to get a team set up to work with you it won't take long for this to build momentum.   Let us know how we can help!  email us at info@Porch2Pantry.org.  .