• About the Study
  • Introduction
    • Objectives
    • Network Overview
    • Groups & Organizations
    • Report Overview
  • Sponsor Statement
  • Service Area Map
  • Download the Reports
  • Appendices
• Methodology
• Key Findings
• Who We Serve
• How We Serve
• Local Picture
• Snapshot Comparisons
• Media Center

Overview of the America's Second Harvest Network (2.2)

The A2H network’s 210 certified members are regularly monitored by A2H staff and food industry professionals to ensure compliance with acceptable food handling, storage, and distribution standards and practices.  A2H network members distribute food and grocery products to charitable organizations in their specified service areas, as shown in Chart 2.2.1.

Within this system, a number of different types of charitable organizations and programs provide food, directly or indirectly, to needy clients.  However, there is no uniform use of terms identifying the essential nature of the organizations.  Hunger relief organizations are usually grassroot responses to local needs.  As such, they frequently differ throughout the country and use different terminology.  For clarity, the terms used in this report are defined as follows:

Food Bank.   A food bank is a charitable organization that solicits, receives, inventories, stores, and distributes donated food and grocery products to charitable agencies that directly serve needy clients.  These agencies include churches and qualifying nonprofit [Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3)] charitable organizations.

Subsidiary Distribution Organization (SDO).  SDOs, smaller food banks or larger agencies allied with affiliated food banks, are private, nonprofit, charitable organizations providing important community services.  Although some are agencies, all SDOs distribute part of their food to other charities for direct distribution to clients.

Food-Rescue Organization (FRO).  FROs are nonprofit organizations that obtain mainly prepared and perishable food products from food service organizations, such as restaurants, hospitals, caterers, and cafeterias, and from distributors of fresh fruits and vegetables and distribute to agencies that serve clients.

Agencies and Food Programs.  A2H network members distribute food to qualifying charitable agencies, most of which provide food directly to needy clients through food programs.  Some agencies operate single-type and single-site food programs, while others operate food programs at multiple sites and sometimes operate several types of food programs.

For this research, there are two general categories of food programs that A2H network members serve:  emergency and nonemergency.

Emergency food programs include food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.  Their clients typically need short-term or emergency assistance.

• Emergency Food Pantries, also called “Food Shelves,” distribute nonprepared foods and other grocery products to needy clients, who then prepare and use these items where they live.  Food is distributed on a short-term or emergency basis until clients are able to meet their food needs.  An agency that picks up boxed food from the food bank to distribute to its clients was included as a food pantry.  The study excluded from this category any agency that does not directly distribute food to clients or distributes bulk food only on a basis other than emergency need (such as U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] commodities to all people over age 60).  On the other hand, a food bank distributing food directly to clients, including clients referred from another agency, qualified as a food pantry.

• Emergency Soup Kitchens provide prepared meals served at the kitchen to needy clients who do not reside on the premises.  In some instances, kitchens may also provide lighter meals or snacks, such as sandwiches, for clients to take with them when the kitchen is closed.  This category includes “Kids Cafe” providers.

• Emergency Shelters provide shelter and serve one or more meals a day on a short-term basis to low-income clients in need.  Shelter may be the primary or secondary purpose of the service.  Examples include homeless shelters, shelters with substance abuse programs, and transitional shelters such as those for battered women.  The study did not categorize as shelters residential programs that provide services to the same clients for an extended time period.  Other excluded programs are mental health/retardation group homes and juvenile probation group homes.

Nonemergency organizations refer to any programs that have a primary purpose other than emergency food distribution but also distribute food.  Examples include day care programs, senior congregate-feeding programs, and summer camps.

CHART 2.2.1  
SOURCES OF FOOD AND CHANNELS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR MEMBERS