Feast and Feed: Community event attracts leads and donations

#madREskillz: Get-together aims to draw prospects by doubling as BBQ and food drive

Teke Wiggin Staff Writer

Jun 19, 2013

David Wilfert knows hosting events like community garage sales is a time-tested way to scoop up clients.
But the broker, an associate at the Wilfert Group, decided he wanted to take a fresh angle on community get-togethers that turn up leads.
That’s how he hatched the idea of hosting a “Shredding Day and Food Drive,” an event that brings community members together to jointly shred sensitive documents and contribute food donations for the needy.
Building on the success of that event, Wilfert (@DavidSWilfer) will add a new twist, and host a “Feast and Feed” that replaces the incessant blare of the shredding machine with delicious food, making it easier to mingle with prospective clients. The idea clinched this week’s #madREskillz mantle for Wilfert.
The event, which Wilfert is now in the preliminary stages of organizing, will double as a barbecue and food drive, with local vendors supplying burgers, hot dogs and other delectables, and attendees dropping off food for the needy.
As with Shredding Day and Food Drive, Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB) of Orange County could back the event, distributing donations to low-income families across Orange County, Wilfert said.

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“Barbecue, socializing and donations for a good cause … what could be better?” Wilfert said.
Wilfert intends to promote Feast and Feed by distributing fliers and post cards, and calling on the help of local community organizers, family and friends.
“Anyone and everyone turns up at these events — residents, vendors and passersby. No one is turned away,” he said. “SHFB can use all the help they can get, and I enjoy giving back to the community in which I work and live.”
Wilfert said that in his experience, pounding the pavement bears a lot of fruit when it comes to generating new marketing ideas.
“Most of my marketing events come from my time in the field, as I am farming, canvassing different communities, speaking with residents and thinking of the greater community,” he said.