At the outset, starting a Food Not Bombs may seem like more than you can handle. Work on the basics, taking one step at a time. There is no need to feel pressured to accomplish everything at once. It might take a couple of weeks to get things rolling; it might take a couple of months. One person can not be a Food Not Bombs group, but one person can be the starter of one group.

Once you have made the decision to start a local Food Not Bombs group, pick a meeting date, time, and place. Gather everyone interested to talk about what you would like to do. You might start with a group of friends, members of an existing group, or it could be people who respond to flyers announcing your intentions.

The following is a step-by-step process to get your food operation up and running. Because of your unique situation, you may need to add, ignore, or reorder steps. Follow the path you feel will work best for your group.

STEP ONE: Get a phone number and mailing address.
By using either a voice mailbox or an answering machine, you can have an outgoing message with information about the next meeting time and place, and receive messages so you will never miss a call. Use a commercial mailbox or post office box for your permanent address.

STEP TWO: Make flyers announcing the existence of a local Food Not Bombs group.
By handing them out at events, posting them around town, or mailing them to your friends, you will get additional volunteers. It is helpful to have regularly scheduled weekly meetings and always know the date of the next one.

STEP THREE: Arrange for the use of a vehicle.
Among the members of your group, there might be enough vehicles of the right size for your needs. If not, you might be able to borrow a van or truck from a sympathetic church group or similar organization. If you are very lucky, you could be able to find someone to donate one to you. If none of the above succeed, you could always hold fund raising events specifically for the purchase of a van.

STEP FOUR: With flyers in hand, begin looking for sources of food.
The first places to approach are the local food co-ops and health food stores. These types of stores tend to be supportive and are a good place to practice your approach. Tell them you plan to give the food to shelters and soup kitchens to feed hungry people, and if they are interested and willing, arrange for a regular time to pick up the food each day, or as often as practical. Where appropriate, leave literature that explains what Food Not Bombs does.

STEP FIVE: Deliver your collected food to shelters and meal kitchens.
It is important to get to know the food pantries and soup kitchens in your area. Learn where they are located, who they serve, and how many they serve. This information will help you plan your delivery route and distribute the appropriate types and amounts of food to each program. It is usually desirable to arrange a regular delivery schedule with each kitchen.

STEP SIX: Once this network becomes established, start to skim some food out of the flow without disrupting the program.
With this food, prepare meals to serve on the streets. Go to rallies and demonstrations first; there your group can recruit more volunteers, collect donations, and lift the spirits of those at the event. Giving out meals at a rally builds community and supports the cause in a very direct way.

STEP SEVEN: Once enough people are involved, consider serving meals in a visible way one day a week to the homeless on the street.
Cooking and serving food there builds community within the group and is hard work, but this is also great fun. Pick highly visible locations, because part of our mission is to help make the "invisible homeless" more visible. We also want to reach out to everyone with our political message of "Food Not Bombs," and we want to be very accessible.

Thank you for your interest. Good luck and keep in touch.