Look at the FFN Bag Pickup app today

Review your route and make sure you are all set for Saturday. The information in the app is the most up-to-date route, reflecting any last minute changes.

• Open the FFN Bag Pickup app
• Find your route, titled with your last name and first initial
• Confirm your address is first on the route (it will be the first and second addresses, if you are also a donor)
• Confirm the drop off location for the collected bags, in case there is something different this month

Be sure you have all of the supplies you need for Saturday morning

• Your driver coordinator has provided you with Red Bags, a scale, and door hangers. See below for helpful reminders on these items.
• It can be helpful to have a written copy of your route as a backup. A .pdf copy of your route can be found HERE. You can print this .pdf, or hand write the information if you do not have access to a printer. This is only a back-up to the information in the FFN Bag Pickup App.
• Be sure you have your Driver Coordinator’s name and contact information with you.
• You might also wish to bring an oversized bag (like an Ikea bag), in case donors provide items without handles

start your route by 8:45am…

…too early and our donors might not have set out their Red Bags.

…too late and you are delaying the volunteers who are at the sorting location, waiting for you to arrive so they can unload and sort the donations.

Use the FFN Bag Pickup app to check in at every house and record the data we need.

If a Red Bag donation is picked up, leave behind one empty Red Bag (only one per household).

If you do not find a donation, please leave a door hanger on the front door, to let the donor you were there but didn’t find their Red Bag. This also lets them know what to do with their donation if they forgot to leave it out. Do not leave an empty Red Bag.

If cash, a check or a gift card is found, please select “Bag Found with Monetary Donation” on the FFN Bag Pickup app. Please note what was donated in the Driver Notes field and, if possible, label the donation itself with the pick-up address. When you arrive to the sorting site, please hand this donation to your Driver Coordinator.

Sometimes the unexpected happens.

If you have a problem with the scale, it is okay to just estimate the weight. (The average weight of a filled bag is 12-15 pounds)Door Hanger to inform the donor that you stopped by but didn’t find their bag.

If something is wrong with your route, the FFN Bag Pickup app, or if you are running late, we need to know ASAP!  Please contact your Driver Coordinator if you have any issues or questions.

If it is rainy, be aware that the donor might have put their FFN donation inside a plastic bag.

If it is windy, please place the empty Red Bag behind a storm door or tie the handles around the door knob. 

When you arrive at the sorting site…

Let your Driver Coordinator know if there were any incorrect addresses, any donor we should follow up with, or any technical issues with the FFN Bag Pickup app

Please do not exit your vehicle. A team of volunteers will unload your vehicle for you!

Speak with your Driver Coordinator before you leave (please be patient if other drivers arrive at the same time).

Return your scale, and extra door hangers, any extra Red Bags, and any monetary donations (cash, check or gift card) to your Driver Coordinator

Contact Information for Driver Coordinators:

• Arlington – Karen Penn 703-655-3911
• Ashburn – Ellen McDougall 703-585-9179
• Centreville – Matt Ellison 703-597-5782
• Fairfax – Marie Sloane 480-381-3501
• Falls Church – Erika Grams 703-559-5156
• Fort Hunt – Laura and Mark Wainwright 571-212-1486
• Herndon – Erika Carlson 571-212-2115 or Jillian Smith 703-675-4451
• South County – Kasey Hill 703- 963-0123
• Springfield – Laurie Perry 571-426-0359
• Sterling – Sara Farbry 703-946-7558