Many food pantries are familiar with the concept of referring their clients to other nonprofits that can help meet needs beyond food. Brochures, business cards and flyers are among the mechanisms used to execute referrals, even though these methods often fall short in ensuring that clients actually follow through. More…
Food Bank News
After seeing clients brace sweltering heat, limited access to bathrooms, and other physical challenges while waiting on pantry lines, The Campaign Against Hunger knew it had to step in. Just before the pandemic hit, the Brooklyn-based hunger relief agency began investigating ways to deliver groceries directly to the doorsteps of…
Among the many benefits of House of Hope’s new food preservation program is a way to create and sell packaged food products, yielding a small revenue stream to support the non-profit’s other programs. The idea of engaging in activity that supports the overall mission of hunger relief, while also allowing…
When the Food Bank of Alaska won a $1.5 million state grant to distribute food to its partner agencies and affiliate food banks, the pressure was on. Awarded in late January, the terms of the grant had to be completed swiftly – by June 30, 2025. The food bank needed…
Less than three years ago, Chicago-based Vivery Community had one food bank using its free Find Food mapping technology to help people find pantries. Now 82 food banks in 32 states are using the maps, and 6.5 million searches have occurred on the platform since its start. That strong momentum…
St. John’s Bread & Life in Brooklyn, NY, has long been a leader in giving clients an easy, de-stigmatized way to digitally browse and select pantry goods. The agency was a trend-setter as far back as 2000, when it made desktop computers available so clients could place their grocery orders…
The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ signed into law on July 4, is landing with a thud among food bank leaders who fear aggressive cuts to SNAP and Medicaid will put more pressure on the hunger relief system. Provisions in the law put more than five million people at risk…
Houston Food Bank has found an unconventional way to improve the experiences of pantry clients by tapping mystery shoppers, a tactic typically used in retail. With its Neighbor Experience Initiative, the food bank deployed mystery shoppers to report back on their in-person interactions at several pantries. Through the lens of…
Food bankers often say that when you’ve seen one food bank, you’ve seen one food bank. The same could be said for mobile markets. All mobile markets have the goal of addressing food insecurity in communities with limited access to fresh, affordable food, but they may differ in the details…