Food Banks, Pantries & Meal Programs: What’s the difference?
Photo Credit US Air Force Staff Sgt. Nathan Maysonet on Wikimedia Commons; public domain image.
A recent report estimated that 1 in 9 American households were food insecure before COVID-19 [FN1]. Between soaring unemployment rates, widespread pay cuts and significant disruptions to both US and global food supply chains, this number is only expected to rise. So, where will these millions of hungry Americans turn when the fridge is empty and money’s low?
Federal nutrition assistance programs like SNAP help families in the mid- or long-term (as do unemployment benefits, if you can get them), but not everyone qualifies for these safety nets and many can’t afford to wait for the paperwork to process. That’s where emergency food programs come in. Local food banks, food pantries and meal programs provide vital support food for insecure households that need food right away.
Each type of operation serves a different purpose, so here’s a quick overview of the similarities and differences between food banks, food pantries and meal programs:
Food Banks
Food banks are large warehouses that store and distribute food. In most cases, they do not interact directly with individuals, but instead coordinate with local food pantries, meal programs (aka soup kitchens) and shelters to allocate food as needed.
Food banks receive donations from individuals, grocery stores, food packing operations, manufacturers, growers and other private organizations [FN2]. They are also supported by The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), which provides both food and funding to support food banks’ work.
Through TEFAP, the USDA purchases nutritious commodity foods and then distributes them to state and local agencies that fight food insecurity. The amount of food and funds allocated to each area/organization depends on the number of low-income and unemployed residents in that community [FN3, FN4].
How to Help
Donations of time or money are most beneficial to food banks.
These organizations receive large shipments of food every week and they rely on volunteers to help sort and package it. Common volunteer tasks include inspecting donated items or sorting & dividing commodity food so it can be shipped-out to local pantries and meal programs.
Monetary donations also help food banks. They often prefer individuals give money instead of food because the food banks have deals with providers that allow them to purchase more food for less.
Find your local food bank here.
Food Pantries
Food pantries provide unprepared food (groceries) directly to individuals struggling with food insecurity. Many pantries also offer non-food items like school supplies and personal hygiene products, plus helpful auxiliary services like health checks, job training and car seat checks. They’re run mostly by volunteers and stocked primarily by food banks, government commodity programs and personal/corporate donations.
However, not all food pantries operate on the same model. Some organizations provide pre-packed food bundles that provide several days’ worth of balanced meals, while others let patrons choose their own foods (more like a grocery store). Food pantries may also be either stationary or mobile [FN5-FN7]. Fixed locations are often found inside food banks or houses of worship.
If you need food to eat in the couple of days or weeks, don’t hesitate to contact your local food pantry! Some, but not all, food pantries are need-based and restrictions are often more lenient than you’d expect. However, it’s best to contact them ahead of time because many pantries only serve local clients (from a specific area) and some require proof of residence to receive food.
How to Help
Food pantries are eager for food donations and volunteers.
Local food pantries typically accept all unopened non-perishable items (even if they’re recently expired), plus fresh food in good condition. They also need volunteers to help assemble food packages for food insecure households and, in some cases, deliver food bundles.
Find your local food pantry here.
Meal Programs (Soup Kitchens)
Meal programs, more commonly known as soup kitchens, serve prepared meals at low or no cost. For many attendees, this is the only hot meal of the day and an important source of nutrition. “Meal program” is the preferred term because most of the kitchens no longer serve soup.
Like food pantries, meal programs receive food from food banks, government commodity programs, grocers, restaurants and food drives (donations). Meals vary depending on availability of ingredients, but usually include a drink and desert and rarely contain fresh produce.
The kitchens are usually in another building, such as a church or a homeless shelter, and have limited space and availability. For this reason, it’s especially helpful (and necessary) that many meal programs also educate people about – and refer them to – other social & nutritional assistance programs [FN8].
How to Help
Meal programs take donations of time, money and food.
They need volunteers to help prepare meals, serve and clean-up. However, these organizations can also use donations of food and money to help feed their hungry patrons.
Find your local meal programs by Googling “soup kitchen + [your city]” or by browsing the list of local emergency food assistance programs (including meal programs) provided here.
Each type of program serves a critical purpose in keeping hungry Americans fed when they need it most. By providing our neighbors with this emergency food assistance, we’re reducing hunger, promoting continued education, increasing productivity & independence, protecting children’s brain development and giving people of all ages the nutrition they need to decrease chronic (and acute) disease risk [FN9]. As a result, food banks, food pantries and meal programs not only improve the lives of food insecure individuals and families, but also benefit the larger local community.
Resources
1. https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/94849/err-270.pdf?v=963.1
2. https://www.feedingamerica.org/our-work/food-bank-network
3. https://www.fns.usda.gov/tefap/tefap-fact-sheet
5. https://solvehungertoday.org/blog/visiting-food-pantry-myths-facts/
6. https://extension.sdstate.edu/tips-visiting-food-pantry
7. https://lssnetworkofhope.org/foodpantries/services/what-is-a-food-pantry/
8. https://www.encyclopedia.com/food/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/soup-kitchens
9. https://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/hunger-2019/america-has-a-hunger-problem/3067/