AY Honors/Hunger Relief/Answer Key
A food bank is a place where food, typically non-perishable goods (and sometimes frozen perishable goods such as meats or concentrated juices), are offered to nonprofit agencies for distribution to people in need of food for free or at very low prices (or in exchange for volunteer work). These agencies are typically non-profit organizations or run as part of a church or community outreach group. A food bank is like the wholesale arm of the food distribution system for those living in poverty. Other agencies are the retail arm and serve people directly. The term "food bank" is not protected by law, however, and is sometimes used by these agencies directly serving those in need of food.
Food banks often get the food from companies or supermarkets with unsaleable stock, and also from donations from the general public, especially around holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. In addition, the US Government and state governments often contract with food banks to distribute USDA feeding programs. In addition, food banks who are members of America's Second Harvest, the nation's food bank network, are able to take advantage of relationships with major manufacturers. Instead of calling the more than 200 food banks across the country, a manufacturer with several semiloads of product to donate can make just one phone call.
The first food bank was St. Mary's Food Bank, started in 1967 in Phoenix, Arizona.
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External links
- America's Second Harvest - official web page
- Capital Area Food Bank - official web page
- Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc. - official web page
- Connecticut Food Bank - official web page
- The European Federation of Food banks - official web page
- Second Harvest Gleaners Food Bank of West Michigan - official web page
