What Does The Feeding America Organization Do?

Feeding America is a non-profit charitable organization whose purpose is to end hunger in America. It is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. They have a network of more than 250 food banks and food recovery organizations throughout the U.S. The network provides food for over ninety thousand programs, that include, emergency shelters, soup kitchens, and food pantries. Prior to August of 2008, Feeding America, was called Second Harvest. Second Harvest was started in the early 1970's by a retired businessman.

Feed America's Programs Include:

• Mobile Pantry - distributes food that food pantries normally do not offer, by providing a refrigerated vehicle.
• SNAP Outreach Program - To help those in need to receive the benefits of The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• National Produce Program - Distributes fresh produce to their network partners.
• Disaster Relief Program - Provides emergency food, as well as disaster relief supplies for communities in need during a disaster.
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) - Supplies food packages for low-income women who are pregnant, new mothers, infants, and children, six years and younger. Elderly individuals that are 60 years old and older are also served if they meet the income eligibility requirements.

Feeding America operates to change hunger relief by way of leadership, as well as innovation. As being the Upper Midwest’s biggest hunger relief organization, their objectives are not just to aid their hungry neighbors, but also to supply the methods for all people for being fed in the future. They are recognized for distributing large quantities of food efficiently and quickly; in the year 2011, they accumulated, warehoused and dispersed over seventy million pounds of food. They also consistently are finding new ways to lessen the food waste and better utilize the ample resources obtainable in America.

Feeding America is a member of the national food bank network, Feeding America. This national network has more than two hundred food banks that serve all of the United States. Feeding America has access to surplus food and food donations from producers and manufacturers in the country. This means millions of pounds of food that is available to the needy.

Feeding America objective is to stop hunger in America by means of community partnerships. They work closely with their network partners, donors and volunteers. Their purpose is not just to effectively and efficiently stop hunger, however to avert hunger. The foundation they have built as a result of programs and community connections will go very far in meeting those objectives. Feeding America distributed more the three billion pounds of food, as well as other grocery items in 2010.

 In 2010, Feeding America did on a study on hunger in America and discovered that only forty-one percent of their clients were enrolled in SNAP, yet approximately eighty-eight percent of their clients were eligible for this program.

Facts About Food Bank Clients:

• 4 out of 10 clients are children
• 1 out of 10 clients are senior citizens