What is a Food Bank?
A food bank is an organization that receives food donations to be distributed to those in need. You might be wondering……who provides the donations? A majority of food donations are made by food manufacturers, processors, grocery chains and other food suppliers. Companies and organizations, as well as members of the community, also play a key role by making generous monetary and food donations. Companies will often host food drives as a way to collect donations.
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As donations come in, food banks work to ensure that food provided to customers is always edible and within the expiration date. Food banks work to safely provide for customers in the best means possible. Food banks can be found in most communities, and rely on the generosity of donors and volunteers to carry out day-to-day operations. Food banks often host major fundraising efforts, such as walks and other events, to bring in financial resources. All food banks serve one purpose: to help those in need.
Now that you know a little more about what a food bank is, let’s delve a little more into what the Freestore Foodbank is about. The Freestore Foodbank is a provider of emergency food and client services. It is the Tri-State’s largest food bank, serving 20 counties across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The Freestore Foodbank has three locations in the greater Cincinnati area: The Customer Connection Center on Liberty Street in Over-the-Rhine, the Mayerson Distribution Center on Tennessee Avenue in Bond Hill and the Jeff and Darlene Anderson Family Building on Central Parkway in the West End.
The Freestore Foodbank serves more than 300,000 people annually in 20 counties across Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana with the help of more than 350 member agencies. Those member agencies include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, childcare/eldercare centers, community centers and residential programs. The Freestore Foodbank solicits, warehouses, and distributes 18 million pounds of donated food and groceries annually.
The Freestore Foodbank uses food to start a conversation to figure out what else is going on in clients’ lives, in turn connecting them to the necessary resources to move forward. Client services offered by the Freestore Foodbank include: Emergency Rent Assistance, Direct Rent/Utilities Program, Protective Payee Program, Transportation Assistance, Emergency Clothing, Holiday Food Basket Distribution, and Homeless Outreach Program.
