Food Bank Centers 

How We Work

Our food bank members help provide low - income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to Americans each year, including Children and Seniors. 

How We Work Together 

Our Food Banks benefits from the unique relationship between our local member food banks at the front lines of hunger relief and the central efforts of our national office.Through the assistance of local and national food assistance programs, Our Food Banks Centers is able to provide nutritious, fresh foods to Americans struggling with hunger; safe and nurturing places for children to have a meal; emergency assistance for disaster victims; as well as a chance at self-sufficiency for adults trying to break the cycle of poverty and hunger. 

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a U.S. government program that provides food at no cost to low-income Americans in need of short-term hunger relief.

TEFAP is administered at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). Through TEFAP, the USDA distributes commodity food products, such as dried beans, juice, grains, ready-to-eat cereals, and canned vegetables, fruits, and meats (commodities) to states and Indian tribal governments. TEFAP also provides storage and distribution grants as part of its effort. The volume of food and amount of grants is based on the size a recipient state’s (or Indian tribe’s) low-income and unemployed population.

In turn, state and Indian tribal government agencies distribute TEFAP-provided commodities to qualifying emergency food organizations (EFOs), such as food banks, church pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, and Community Action Agencies. These local organizations distribute food directly to those in need or use it to prepare meals. In most cases, EFOs combine TEFAP food with privately donated food. This practice extends the impact of TEFAP beyond the budgeted amount of the program.

Each state and Indian tribal government sets the eligibility requirements for receiving TEFAP program support. Generally, individuals and families qualify at 100 to 155 percent of the federal poverty threshold. TEFAP is designed to serve many vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, working families, and the homeless.

In addition to providing wholesome food to hungry people, through commodity purchasing, TEFAP provides income to farmers and ranchers, the heart of rural economies. The Secretary of Agriculture can also approve “bonus” commodity purchases to further boost farm income and stabilize market prices for at-risk commodities. 

The Private and Public Sectors Working Together 

The majority of food distributed through Feeding America’s system is provided by the private sector, but private donations are not always reliable and consistent sources of food. TEFAP is necessary to ensure a steady supply of nutritional food for people in need. In 2007, more than 60 food products were available, including canned fruits and vegetables, fruit juice, meat, poultry, fish, dried egg mix, and peanut butter. Food banks report that TEFAP commodities are often the most nutritious food they distribute to hungry Americans.

Unfortunately, discretionary distribution of bonus commodity purchases has decreased significantly in recent years. This decline has created a major challenge for emergency food providers, who have seen increased demand for emergency food just as TEFAP distributions have declined.
 

More Resources 

For more information about TEFAP and its role in the nation’s food assistance safety net, please contact Eleanor Thompson, Feeding America’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, at (312) 641-6706.

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides low-income children with free, nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session and when increased numbers of children are at risk of hunger because they cannot access school meal programs. SFSP is the single-largest federal resource available for local sponsors who want to feed children in the summer months.

Through the SFSP, summer programs can provide up to two healthy meals or snacks per day to children and minor teenagers at approved sites in low-income areas, as well as to mentally or physically disabled adults who participate in school programs. (Some sites that primarily serve migrant children are able to provide three meals or snacks per day.) SFSP sponsors––schools, public agencies, camps, and private nonprofit organizations like food banks––receive reimbursement payments for allowable costs, such as food or administrative support staff. Additionally, all sponsors receive training from their state agency before starting the program to learn how to plan, operate, and monitor a successful food service program.

 Three Types of SFSP Sites

There are three main types of SFSP sites that can be approved by a state: open, enrolled, or camp sites. 

• Open sites operate in low-income areas where at least half of the children come from families with incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Any child in the community may eat at open sites.
• Enrolled sites provide free meals to the children enrolled in an activity program where at least half of the children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Only the children enrolled in the local program can eat at these sites.
• Camps may also participate in SFSP; but are reimbursed only for the meals served to children who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

Meals are provided to children, free of charge, at all SFSP sites.

Evolution of the SFSP    

The foundation for the SFSP was laid during a three-year pilot project started in 1968 and the program became permanent in 1975. Over the years, significant enhancements and reforms have been instituted. Major reforms to the program were initiated as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, the most significant being the elimination of private nonprofit organization sponsors, with the exception of schools and camps. Private nonprofit organization sponsors were subsequently readmitted with certain conditions in 1989 as part of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. Significant changes were also made in 1996 as part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act.

In 2001 Congress enacted the Simplified Summer Food Service Program (also known as the Lugar Pilot) in 6 states, which enhanced the program’s overall effectiveness by simplifying the reporting requirements for sponsors and removing the wall between administrative and operational expenses. Additional states were added to the pilot in 2005 and 2006. The FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act expanded the pilot to all sponsors, in all states nationwide.

Current Legislative Priorities and Challenges

While the SFSP has made great strides in the fight against childhood hunger in the summer months, much more can be done. To facilitate this work, Congress should enact further legislation to: 

• Expand open-site eligibility for the SFSP;
• Restore SFSP meal reimbursement rates to pre-Welfare Reform (1996) levels with adjustments for inflation;
• Expand Rural Transportation Pilot Programs to encourage sponsorship and participation in rural areas, which are severely underserved in the SFSP.

More Resources

To learn more about the Summer Food Service Program, please contact us info@crfhelpusa.org.

  
Feeding America Summer Food Service Program Fact Sheet

USDA Summer Food Service Program Page

Volunteer

On-going Volunteer Efforts

Each day, hunger is experienced in every community across this country. In fact, our network feeds millions neighbors each year. Ending hunger in America depends on the volunteer work of literally millions of Americans who know that they can make a difference.

There are as many different ways to volunteer, as there are individuals and communities across this country. 

You can help out in your local community through activities such as:

• tutoring kids at your local Kids Cafe
• repackaging donated food for use at food pantries
• transporting food to charitable agencies
• clerical work at the National Office

Its simple - get involved today - and get your family and friends involved.  To find opportunities in your area, please contact your local food bank.

Disaster Response Volunteers

Volunteers are needed across the country to support our network's commitment to the survivors of disaster-affected communities.

You can help out in your local community through activities such as sorting, boxing and repackaging donated food to be directed where it's needed most.  Addressing the needs of displaced survivors will be critical over the next several months.
  
Contact your Feeding America network member to see how your help is needed.

Community

You can become a part of the CRF Food Bank community through a number of channels. 

We are trying to add more food banks centers. 

 

 

 

Virtual Food Drive

Be a Hunger Hero by creating your own fundraising campaign. Your virtual food drive will let you make a big difference in the fight against hunger. It's easy to get started: just create a fund for yourself or for your company.

Other Ways to Donate

Give in honor or memory of a loved one; or choose to donate through stocks, securities and more.  Employee giving programs and corporate matching gifts are another way to make a difference. Learn More.

Food & Food Drives

Food drives provide nearly one-third of the food we distribute annually. Help us continue to meet the needs of people in the community by learning more about hosting a food drive.

Corporate Donations & Foundation Relations

We appreciate all our Corporate and Foundation Partners. Learn More.

FAQs

Let us help you how to make your donation and explain how we use your gifts efficiently with the answers to our most frequently asked questions.

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