Food Banks
Food banks are professional organizations that collect food from a variety of sources in their respective counties, save the food in a warehouse, then distribute it to hungry families and individuals through local human service agencies. Most food banks collect less perishable foods such as canned goods so they are less likely to spoil.
Agencies served by food banks and rescue programs include community centers, soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, senior programs, and child care centers.
Food banks distribute food that has been donated by companies and individuals and provided through the USDA’s commodity programs. As such, food banks’ shelves are largely a reflection of the food flowing through the overall food system in America. In recent years, food banks increasingly have become the local clearinghouses for hunger information, education, and policy in their communities.
Click here for a directory of food banks in your county |