by Scott Baker
Part of our goal here at FeedingMissouri.org is to help educate Missourians not only on the issue of hunger, but also the safety net that does exist. The Missouri Food Bank Association (MFBA) obviously represents the food BANKS in the Show-Me State, but what is a food bank? How are they different than food pantries?
There is a lot of misunderstanding when trying to define the network that is in place to help feed hungry Missourians. It starts with the six food banks of the MFBA. For starters, you may be surprised to learn there are only six! That’s a common misconception. Many people think that the organization run out of the local church is a food bank, but that is one of over 1,500 food pantries that are a part of our network.
When you think of a food bank, think of a large warehouse operation with lots of trucks, forklifts, and racks that reach to the ceiling. Each food bank distributes millions of pounds of food each year. To do so requires a significant amount of storage space and a fleet of trucks. These trucks can be small ‘bread trucks’ or they can be large semis and everything in between.
Food banks have paid staff, some as small as 25 people, others with over 125. These people are responsible for everything from food acquisition to communications, fundraising, warehouse management, accounting, and equipment maintenance. As you can see, it costs a lot to operate a food bank! But food banks also rely upon volunteers. Without volunteers, it would be nearly impossible to pack and sort much of the food that comes into a food bank.
If you were to visit a food bank, you would see a series of docks where partner agencies can pick up their food. This is where the food pantries come in. Many pantries send pickup trucks, cars, vans, or whatever they’ve got to pick up their food from the food bank. Since food banks serve multiple counties, they are sometimes able to distribute food to agencies that are farther away.
The vast majority of food pantries are operated by volunteers. Many of them are housed in faith-based facilities. Locations vary, so that’s why it’s helpful to southfayettenursing.com check out our agency locator under “Find Food.”
As you can see, the MFBA network is large, but it cannot operate without the support of donors and volunteers. Missourians are generous and willing to help their neighbors. It is that generosity that helps the MFBA network help those in need.
Solving the hunger problem starts with education. You’ve now taken Food Banking 101. Thanks for taking the time to educate yourself on the issue of hunger in Missouri and most of all thanks for your support!