What is the Orange Bag Program? - The Orange Bag Program offers a convenient and meaningful way for community members to support local students experiencing food insecurity. After donations are collected, our volunteer team brings them to our facility for inventory and sorting. Once prepared, the items are delivered to participating middle and high schools, where they are organized and distributed to the students who need them most.

What is the best way to fill a bag? - Bring your Orange Bag with you during your regular grocery trips and fill it with items from the attached donation list. Each contribution—large or small—plays an important role in supporting students and families in need.

For convenience and accurate record‑keeping, we encourage donors to keep Orange Bag items separate from personal purchases at checkout and to retain the itemized receipt for tax documentation.

Do I purchase everything on the list? - There is no requirement to purchase every item on the list. Simply fill your Orange Bag with any of the suggested donations you choose to provide. After collection, our team carefully sorts all contributions and distributes a balanced selection of items to each participating school. Every donation—large or small—has a meaningful impact on the students we serve.

Is there anything I should not include in my Orange Bag? - To maintain the highest standards of safety and quality, we are unable to accept the following items:

• Donations not included on the approved Orange Bag grocery list
• Sugary products such as candy, gum, or cookies
• Home‑prepared or homemade foods
• Items that are opened, damaged, or past their expiration date

These guidelines help ensure that every student receives safe, nutritious, and reliable support.
 

What items are most/least needed? - Students often request quick, nutritious items such as Cup O’ Noodles, Clif Bars, beef jerky sticks, and shelf‑stable chocolate milk. We also welcome the addition of toiletries from our approved list, as these essentials provide valuable support to students who may be facing difficult circumstances.

Are there any areas or neighbors where you are not able to pick up Orange Bags? - We proudly serve Wood County, West Virginia, including Parkersburg and the surrounding communities. While we are unable to provide doorstep pickup for apartments, condos, or gated neighborhoods, you can still make a meaningful impact by participating through our Virtual Orange Bag option—no physical bag needed.

As our organization continues to grow, we invite you to sign up for updates. You’ll receive our newsletter and stay informed about future expansion into additional counties. We also welcome anyone interested in getting more involved to join us as a volunteer and help strengthen support for local students and families.

What if I can't leave a Orange Bag for one of the collections? - If your plans change and you are unable to donate food, please notify us by 12:00 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the event. Our Orange Bag pickup routes are finalized on Thursday, and any changes made within 48 hours of the event cannot be updated for our drivers.

If you are unexpectedly unable to leave your bag out on collection day, don’t worry. Our driver will still stop by and may leave a “missed bag” door hanger. Simply place the door hanger inside your Orange Bag for the next collection.

If you intended to participate but we were unable to include you on a route, we sincerely apologize. Please hold onto your bag and contribute during the next scheduled pickup.

If you cannot leave a bag but would still like to support students, you may donate through our Virtual Orange Bag option.

For additional questions, please reach out to us. Responses may take 24–48 hours.

What happens if my bag didn't get picked up (or I forgot to put it out)? - Although we strive for smooth and timely pickups, occasional missed bags do occur. Unfortunately, we are not able to send volunteers back out for additional collection. If your bag was not placed outside or was missed before 10:30 a.m., you have the following options:

Option 1: Hold onto any non‑perishable items and include them in your next scheduled collection. 

Option 2: Donate the contents of your bag to a local food pantry. Please keep your empty Orange Bag for future use.  If you would still like to support local students this month, you can participate by “filling” a Virtual Orange Bag.

For any additional questions, please contact us. Responses may take 24–48 hours.

What if my address changes or I can no longer participate? - If you need to update your contact information or make changes to your Orange Bag participation status, please reach out to us through our Contact Us page.

What if I can't find my Orange Bag? - If your Orange Bag is missing, don’t worry. You may use any standard grocery bag and clearly label it “Urgent Care EMS Response Team.” Our volunteer will collect your donation and provide a replacement Orange Bag for future collections.

For the best Orange Bag experience, we have few more tips? - Please take a moment to reply to our text or email to confirm whether you will be leaving a filled Orange Bag for pickup. Your response helps our volunteers avoid unnecessary stops and ensures you receive a reminder before collection day. If you are not receiving our messages, please contact us so we can add you to our notification list.

On pickup day, place your Orange Bag outside before 9:00 A.M. in a clearly visible spot near your front door. Our drivers visit 20–30 homes within a short timeframe, so visibility helps prevent missed bags.

We also recommend reminding household members that it is Orange Bag pickup day, so your donation isn’t accidentally brought back inside. To avoid confusion, please refrain from scheduling other deliveries or pickups at your front door that morning, as they may be mistaken for UCEMSRT donations.

If rain is expected, place your Orange Bag inside a plastic bag to keep items dry.

When preparing your donation, please check expiration dates and leave all items in their original packaging. If your contributions exceed the space in your Orange Bag, feel free to place the additional items in a separate grocery bag or box labeled “UCEMSRT Donation.” We truly appreciate the extra support.

If you no longer wish to participate in the Orange Bag Program, please contact us so we can update your status.

What if I still have questions? - The Urgent Care EMS Response Team is always here to help. Whether you have questions or would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities, we’d be glad to connect with you. Please reach out through our Contact Us page.

What should I do with my filled Orange Bag if I am also an Event Volunteer? - Thank you for your generosity and commitment to supporting local students. Simply place your filled Orange Bag by your front door before you leave for the day. One of our drivers will collect your donation and leave a replacement bag for the next collection cycle.