How We Get Our Food
Have you ever wondered where West Ohio Food Bank gets all that food, and what can you do to help?
We get food from a variety of sources, including donations, government agencies, and purchases.
From individual food drives to farmers and federal programs, there are three main ways food banks get food to feed their communities.
1. Food is donated to us
Most of the food that reaches struggling families is donated to food banks by people, businesses, and farmers. Food donations can come from:
An essential source of high-quality, shelf-stable items, food drives provide flexibility for food banks. The food received can be distributed immediately or stored until needed. Individuals, families, church groups, companies, and businesses start food drives.
Many food banks have relationships with local farmers – from small urban gardens to sprawling rural operations – who donate a portion of their crops to the food bank. These donations help food banks provide healthy foods to our neighbors who may not otherwise have access to fresh produce. These relationships are also critical in fighting food waste by allowing farmers and growers to donate excess produce.
Large and small food businesses, restaurants, and bakeries donate food to food banks. These donations can be big – a truckload of milk – or smaller – a few boxes of extra bread from a local bakery. Contributions from these groups include everything from dairy products to canned goods or even meat products. Last year, businesses donated 2.9 billion meals to Feeding America.
2. We purchase food
Sometimes, food banks may purchase the items their neighbors need but aren’t donated regularly, such as fresh produce and dairy. Food banks often buy this food at much lower prices than what we spend at the grocery store, so donated dollars can turn into more meals. Purchasing also means food banks can be flexible to address needs specific to their communities, like culturally or medically particular diets.
3. We receive food from federal programs
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides billions of meals to our neighbors facing hunger yearly. The USDA purchases food from farmers and delivers it to food banks for distribution in their communities. The USDA’s programs are among the most reliable food sources for food banks, providing 1.2 billion meals last year.
Feeding America Donated Program
Donated food from national food manufacturers and companies with a local presence, which may carry a service maintenance charge to our partner agencies of up to 19¢ per pound of food.
Fresh Produce Initiative Program (ACP)
Donations of fresh fruits and vegetables, chickens and eggs from family farmers throughout Ohio.
Ohio Food Program
Offers nutritious, shelf-stable food with high protein items such as peanut butter, ground meats and tuna fish. These items are received throughout the year for emergency pantries/emergency meal sites.
USDA- Federal Commodities Program
Provides a variety of nutritious food items to supplement the “food mix” in meals ‘bagged’ by emergency providers, or ‘served hot’ at meals sites provided monthly during the year along with produce when available.
Reclamation and Recovery Program
Dedicated to sorting, cleaning, and repackaging rescue food and food from local food drives. Grocery store items are received from Kroger, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Meijer Save A Lot, Ruler Foods, Marsh, etc., and through local food drives.