Food Banks

About the organization

Feeding America is a nonprofit network that encompasses around 200 food banks and more than 60,000 partner food pantries and meal distribution programs throughout the US. The organization strives to bring affordable food options to those who cannot access enough. Established in 1979, the organization remains one of the largest charitable nonprofits today.

The actual operations

Most food provided by food banks isn't sourced through grocery shopping but rather through charitable giving. Usually, surplus items from farms, grocery stores, restaurants, and food corporations are being given away. In order to keep from letting it go to waste, Feeding America collects the goods, organizes them, and delivers them to area food pantries for family distribution.

According to their own organization's records, Feeding America's network delivered over 5.3 billion servings of food to those who were hungry during 2023. They're also involved in various school meal initiatives and disaster relief following events like hurricanes, floods, and fires.

The significance

As reported by the USDA, in 2023, 13.5 percent of American households faced food insecurity at some point during the year. Meaning, approximately 18 million households did not have enough money or material goods to sell to get proper nutrition. This has a huge effect on society and children all across the country as it is proven that hunger among children can impede focus during academic lessons along with increasing their risk of illnesses or anxiety. As such, food banks aren't merely distributing groceries but are allowing children to access their education properly.

Ways students can contribute

• Establish a canned food collection event at your campus
• Spend a few hours of service volunteering at an area pantry during the weekend
• Participate in online philanthropy – most food banks will be able to convert a single dollar into more than just one meal
• Share on social media to alert those in need of available resources