How to Start a Food Pantry: Six Simple Steps

• Remember that even if your town or neighborhood already has a food pantry, this does NOT mean the your community's food assistance needs are being met. Most food pantries only distribute twice a month, so perhaps consider doing your distribution the opposite two weeks.
• Once you assess the need, you may want to look into creating eligibility standards (I.E. what kind of income levels the person/family makes in order to partake in your services)

• Try to make sure you have a consistent and stable place to distribute from. This will not only be easier on you, but creates a stability for the clients as well.
• For example, If working in conjunction with a church or temple perhaps they could allow you to use a part of their basement for the food distribution. However, do not forget that no matter where the site is, it is important to make sure all excess food is protected from rodents and the like, perhaps by metal cabinets.
• Make sure to comply with all applicable state and local fire safety, food storage/handling requirements and health codes. You will want to call your local Dept. of Health for this.

• Try to secure an alliance with your local food bank. Food banks are similar to a "supermarket" for food pantries. They usually receive fairly large donations and then break those down for each food pantry, as well as sometimes assist in funding.
• America's Second Harvest is a national association with food banks all over the country, to find out where the closest one to you is call (1-800) 771-2303, or visit their website at www.americassecondharvest.org

• Word of mouth, as well as fliers or other creative ideas can help generate awareness of the new food pantry, as well as encourage donations and volunteers.
• Keep in mind, the variety of opportunities for everyone in the community to take part in with the creation of a food pantry. Be sure to vocalize them so everyone knows there is a role for them. (I.E. working at the site, financial book keeping, writing letters to funders and food sources etc.)

• Just because they have to throw their food away, does not mean it is unfit for consumption. Try talking to the manager about saving all that wasted food and giving it to your food pantry or soup kitchen.
• Keep in mind with food of this nature, that is "gleaned" or "saved", it would probably be best to work out an agreement so that the food is used that day. (I.E. agree that every 2nd and 4th Tuesday you will make a pickup since you distribute every 2nd and 4th Tuesday.)
• N.B. The Emerson Good Samaritan Act protects individuals as well as organizations that donate food in good faith against law suits being filed due to illness etc.

*** Keep in mind that just because people are being generous and donating, you should not hesitate to discard an item that may not look safe. Be sure to try and check expiration dates, as some people donate in good faith, but may forget how old some of their food is.

• One can not always depend on donations, and some food banks charge a fee to obtain food from their sites. Try to visit the local businesses in the area and see if they would be interested in "funding" the food pantry. (I.E. monthly monetary donations.) Explain to the business owner how this would not only benefit the community, but would also create positive attention to their business as well.



• Some other ideas for funding include:
• Mazon Foundation (funding specifically for food pantries)
• Foundation Center's website

If yours is a religious organization, get in touch with the national association of your particular religious affiliation (Lutheran, Baptist, etc.)

• Try to get donations from any local clubs such as Kwanis Club, Rotary Club
• Have the private high schools in your area do a food/can drive to donate to your efforts
• See what kind of commodities you can obtain from the government www.usda.gov
• If you haven't already, please fill out the survey to become part of our National Hunger Clearinghouse (NHC). As an NHC member, we will potentially come across your organization when filling requests from funders, and you will also receive our monthly newsletter, What's Moo, which details additional funding opportunities, upcoming conferences and pending legislation.
• If you have any further questions you can call our food assistance hotline at 1-800-GLEANIT