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The Food Bank for Westchester solicits
and administers donations from both the
public and private sector, distributing
food through local agencies, which, through
various programs meet the needs of individuals
and families.
The
Food Bank for Westchester’s core
activity is the collection and distribution
of donated, government and purchased food.
The Food Bank for Westchester is
the supply and support center for approximately
200 frontline hunger relief member agencies
throughout Westchester. The Food Bank collects
food in warehouse quantities, stores and
repacks it to fulfill member agency orders
weekly. In addition to delivering 5 to
8 tons of food per day in its three trucks
and one van, member agencies pick up thousands
more pounds of food from the warehouse
daily.
The Food Bank for Westchester distributes
approximately 5 million pounds of food
annually including almost a million pounds
of fresh local produce and eggs. In addition,
the Food Bank rescues prepared and perishable
foods from local restaurants, institutional
cafeterias and supermarkets that would
otherwise be discarded.
The Food Bank for
Westchester also provides technical
assistance in the form of facility /
organizational management, resource development,
safe food handling/ sanitation and nutrition
for it’s distribution network comprised
of qualified food pantries, soup kitchens,
shelters, residential and other feeding
programs.
The Food Bank for Westchester also
conducts 3 direct service programs: STEPS works
with low income women with children, helping
them to take steps toward self – sufficiency,
the Food Stamp Outreach program
assists seniors, the homebound and Spanish
speakers apply for and receive food stamps
and the Kids Café provides
a hot nutritious meal and nutrition education
to school age children after school. The
Food Bank also conducts nutrition/food
safety education for food assistance recipients.
The Food Bank
for Westchester is
a certified affiliate member of America’s
Second Harvest, the largest domestic hunger
relief charity in the United States and a
founding member of the Food Bank Association
of New York State. The Food Bank
for Westchester is one of eight
food banks in New York State.
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