26 Facts About Food banks

Food banks bank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes food to those who have difficulty purchasing enough to avoid hunger, usually through intermediaries like food pantries and soup kitchens.

Some food banks distribute food directly with their own food pantries.

St Mary's Food banks Bank was the world's first food bank, established in the US in 1967.

Growth of food banks has been welcomed by commentators who see them as examples of an active, caring citizenship.

Major distinction between food banks is whether or not they operate on the "front line" model, giving out food directly to the hungry, or whether they operate with the "warehouse" model, supplying food to intermediaries like food pantries, soup kitchens and other front-line organisations.

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In other countries, food banks usually do hand out food parcels direct to hungry people, providing the service that in the US is offered by food pantries.

At least in Canada and the US, food banks run by charities often place relatively more weight on the salvaging of food that would otherwise go to waste, and on encouraging voluntarism, whereas those run by unions can place greater emphasis on feeding the hungry by any means available, on providing work for the unemployed, and on education, especially on explaining to users their civil rights.

Food banks can buy food either at market prices or from wholesalers and retailers at discounted prices, often at cost.

Sometimes farmers will allow food banks to send gleaners to salvage leftover crops for free once their primary harvest is complete.

Many food banks don't accept fresh produce, preferring canned or packaged food due to health and safety concerns, though some have tried to change this as part of a growing worldwide awareness of the importance of nutrition.

Food banks started collecting that food for the dining room but soon had too much for that one program.

Food banks thought of creating a central location from which any agency can receive donations.

In Spain, food banks can operate on the warehouse model, supplying a network of surrounding soup kitchens and other food relief agencies.

The increase in the dependency on food banks has been blamed by some, such as Guardian columnist George Monbiot, on the 2008 recession and the Conservative government's austerity policies.

Unlike soup kitchens, most, but not all UK food banks are unable to help people who come in off the street without a referral – instead they operate with a referral system.

People who turn to food banks are typically grateful both for the food and for the warmth and kindness they receive from the volunteers.

Some food banks have tried to respond with innovative programmes; London Street Foodbank for example began asking donors to send in supermarket vouchers so that those they serve will be able to choose food that best meets their nutritional needs.

UK food banks appealed for volunteers and supplies, fearing an increase in demand for food as Universal Credit was rolled out further.

Many further people who need food banks have low-income jobs, but struggle to afford food after making debt repayments and all other expenses.

Delhi Food banks Bank is an organization that feeds, empowers and transforms lives in the New Delhi–NCR Region.

Egyptian Food Bank was established in Cairo in 2006, and less than ten years later, food banks run on similar principles spread to other Arab countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, there are charity-run food banks that operate on a semi-commercial system that differs from both the more common "warehouse" and "frontline" models.

Once food banks become well established, it can be politically impossible to return responsibility for meeting the needs of hungry people to the state.

Poppendieck says that the logistics of running food banks can be so demanding that they prevent kind-hearted people from having time to participate in public policy advocacy; yet she says if they can be encouraged to lobby politicians for long-term changes that would help those on low income, they often have considerable credibility with legislators.

Food banks said a survey in Toronto found that only 1 in 5 families suffering from food insecurity would turn to food banks, in part as there is a stigma associated with having to do so.

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Hannah Lambie-Mumford, from Sheffield University, echoed the view that some users of food banks find having to ask for food humiliating, and that food banks volunteers should be encouraged to advocate for long-term solutions to the underlying causes of poverty and hunger.