Second Harvest Recruits Hosts for Holiday Food Drives

Madison businesses and schools are invited to host collection barrels to help fight regional food insecurity.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Philanthropy

Gouache-painted illustration of a simple donation barrel in a sunlit indoor space, representing a community holiday food drive. — Second Harvest Food Bank is recruiting Madison businesses and schools to host holiday food drive collection barrels for local families. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you plan to participate in a local food drive this holiday season?

Second Harvest Food Bank is calling on local businesses, schools, and organizations in Madison to host food drives for the upcoming holiday season. The initiative aims to provide essential support to community members facing food insecurity.

Why it matters

By organizing widespread food drives, the campaign ensures that the food bank can effectively address the heightened need for nutritional support across Southern Wisconsin during the holidays.

Last year's Share Your Holidays campaign successfully facilitated 200 individual food drives across the region. Participants now have until October 23, 2026, to register for barrel delivery.

The players

Second Harvest Food Bank

This organization operates as a regional hunger-relief network that provides food to individuals and families throughout Southern Wisconsin.

WMTV

This television station serves as the lead organizer for the annual Share Your Holidays campaign in the Madison area.

The details

Interested groups can sign up to receive a donation barrel at their location, or they may choose to pick up a collection box directly from Second Harvest if the initial deadline is missed. The collected items contribute to the broader Share Your Holidays campaign organized by WMTV.

October 23, 2026: Deadline to sign up for donation barrel delivery.
November 9, 2026: Scheduled date for donation barrel delivery and campaign kickoff.

Market Landscape

This initiative follows the established pattern of regional holiday community support efforts promoted by large hunger-relief networks. By leveraging local partnerships, these drives capitalize on increased seasonal philanthropic engagement to sustain year-round operations.

Local businesses and schools can engage in direct community aid by hosting collection points for their employees and students. Residents should monitor for these donation barrels to contribute non-perishable goods during the upcoming season.

The takeaway

Engaging in organized community food drives serves as a practical way for local institutions to address regional hunger needs. Participants are encouraged to register by the October deadline to ensure they receive collection materials in time for the November kickoff.