I’m seeing the power of social media and the internet in general. Dozens of people from all over the country (and even beyond) have pledged to donate to their local food drives for the Avenue Z Virtual Food Drive. After just two days, we’re already well on our way to getting the commitments we need to raise ONE TON of donated food, ONE CAN at a time.

Have you made your pledge? Leave a comment below!

Here’s the count so far as I know it (does the math confuse you? Check out the FAQs):

• I’m working with my neighbors on the Golden Hill Food Drive here in San Diego. A conservative estimate of what we’ll collect is 10 Bags.
• BigManWalking, a Twitter favorite with more than 1000 followers, pledged to donate 1 Bag (I’m guessing) to Ladle Fellowship in San Diego. Bag Count: 11
  
• The Mighty Erin will take advantage of a collection bin in a grocery store to add her donations, as will my amazing parents. Bag Count: 13
• My generous sister is giving her kids extra credit to participate in their school’s food drive, and she’s going to take my nephews door to door in her neigborhood. I figure that’s good for at least 3 Bags. Bag Count: 17
• Daniel Johnson, Jr. says his church just provided 70 boxes of food for the local Salvation Army, and he’s donating gift cards for perishable items. I’m giving him credit for 2 Bags. Bag Count: 19
• Dawn says she’s adding 1 Bag of groceries to her errand list as she picks up her Toys for Tots. Bag Count: 20
• Paula gets credit for 1 Bag at least since she gets a matching grant when she donates to the Union Rescue Mission in LA. Bag Count: 21
• Run DMT gets at least 1 Bag for cleaning out her pantries to donate to her local food bank, Metropolitan Ministries. Bag Count: 22
• Bonnie is giving to the food drives at her kids’ school as well as the Greater Chicago Food Depository. That’s good for 2 Bags. Bag Count: 24
• Sara Avery is donating cash to the Food Bank of the Rockies because they may be able to buy more with the dollars. She also regularly donates at her grocery stores. 2 Bags for Sara. Bag Count: 26
• Mark Yturralde, aka SDGEEK on Twitter, was saddened by empty donation cans. He’s donating bunches — at least 5 Bags! Bag Count: 29
• Dana Lookadoo was inspired by this drive to donate even more to the Twin Lakes Food Bank in Folsom, CA. 1 Bag. Bag Count: 30
• Laya is donating nonperishables to the Ronald McDonald House. 1 Bag. Bag Count: 31
• Rogers Cadenhead, my editor from college and now a notable author of computer books (or at least I noted that he was an author), added 1 Bag to his donations. Bag Count: 31
• Gopal Shenoy is donating Another Bag of groceries to the public library’s food drive in Grafton, MA. Bag Count: 32
• Jessica Levin gets a credit of 1 Bag for donating to FeedingAmerica.org. Bag Count: 33
• My amazing neighbor Jenny pledged to donate 1 Bag here in San Diego, as did Up The Street Pete (pictured above with my very first actual donation!), formerly known as Cute Coffee Shop Guy. Jenny and Pete are also helping me with the Golden Hill Food Drive Bag Count: 34
• Rickey Gold wrote, “I just got something in the mail from our local food pantry. I was going to donate something before I saw a tweet about your virtual food drive. But now I’m doubly committed.” Yea! 1 Bag. Bag Count: 35
• Catherine Skoor pledged a whole grocery cart to Northwest Harvest for the drive. I’m guessing at least 3 Bags. Bag Count: 38
• Blogging buddy Steph and husband Colin will give their regular 1 Bag of food to Tim Horton’s Drve. This is the first Canadian commitment I’m aware of. Bag Count: 39
• Cinda Crawford is preparing her 1 Bag for a local drive in Roanoke, VA. She reminds us that people with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome need our help and kindness, too. Bag Count: 40
• Christina Wright will donate at her son’s school in Arcadia. Bag Count: 41
• Rebecca Smith is donating food and cash to her local food bank, plus she’s buying a gift for a child through the Salvation Army. She’s also one of those wonderful people who delivers Meals on Wheels year round. I’ll give her 2 Bags because of the cash with the groceries. Bag Count: 43
• Angela reminds us that it’s not just this season…. food banks are in need throughout the year. She’s donating money to her food bank because she’s cutting down on the waste she keeps in her own pantry. Bag Count: 44
• Mark Long, a longtime Avenue Z reader, is inspired to donate to Caritas of Waco, TX. “We should have done this before but haven’t. Thanks for providing the impetus to get us to do this! Bag Count: 45
• D.J. Rausa, otherwise known as the boyfriend, is going to collect in his office building. I’m guessing he’ll come up with 3 Bags at least. Bag Count: 48

Also thanks so much to those of you who wrote about things you’ve been doing, like Sasha who wrote a check to her church to help the very empty Food Bank Cupboard recently, and Madame Soybean who donated warm coats and food already.