Feeding America Tampa Bay makes a difference in the lives of thousands of people weekly through its distribution to a partnership network of more than 600 churches and other incorporated non-profit organizations. These hunger relief agencies are both big and small, but all fulfill the basic Feeding America requirements listed below. If your organization is interested in utilizing the Food Bank as a resource, this is where to begin.
There are many benefits to becoming a member agency partner of Feeding America Tampa Bay that go beyond access to food for your program. We provide food safety training, nutrition training, order delivery and "mobile pantry" direct distributions, access to grant opportunities, and more.
If you can meet the criteria listed, please contact the Food Bank's agency relations manager, Sylivis Kapous, 813.254.1190 ext. 201 for an agency application. Pinellas County-based charities should contact Joe Nolasco, 727.258-4940.
Criteria for Membership In the Food Bank Program
In accordance with section 170(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and the established membership requirements of the Feeding America Food Bank Network, the following criteria must be met by all Feeding America Tampa Bay recipient agencies/faith-based organizations.
1. The agency must be a non-profit, tax exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or equivalent.
2. The agency/faith-based organization must use the food to serve the needy. Must provide on site and/or emergency food to those who qualify without cost.
3. The feeding program of the agency/faith-based organization must fit under one of the following categories:
a. Emergency food pantry- providing groceries to those in need of one-time or short-term food assistance.
b. Residential program/shelter- cooking and serving meals to a registered clientele, including day care, detox, half-way houses, group homes, day activity programs and assisted living facilites.
c. Soup Kitchen- cooking and serving meals to walk-in guests on a regular or occasional basis
d. Snack Program- serving snack foods
e. Other- example: outreach events providing food to the needy several times a year.
4. The agency/faith-based organization must not charge for meals, sell food, or exchange food for services or other property. The agency/faith-based organization may not require or solicit donations from recipients for food. The agency/faith-based organization must not use the Food Bank products for any other purpose, i.e. banquets, parties, etc., or for fund-raising purposes. The items will be used only for needy clients. FATB must be notified of special community events.
5. The agency/faith-based organization must notify the Food Bank immediately if:
a. The program is discontinued
b. Authorized ordering person(s) is replaced
c. The program changes location
d. The Safe Food Handler is replaced
6. The agency/faith-based organization must maintain up-to-date records on their feeding or food distributing program.
a. All on-site meals served at soup kitchens or residential programs/shelters must maintain copies of menus and names of recipients.
b. All food box distributions at food pantries must maintain recipient’s name, address, number in household, and date served.
c. All Feeding America Tampa Bay invoices must be kept for three years.
d. All snack programs must maintain a list of names receiving snack items.
e. All other feeding programs must maintain recipient’s name, address, number in household and date served.
7. The agency/faith-based organization must have adequate refrigeration/freezer and dry storage space for the amount of food received, to ensure integrity of the food until used or redistributed. Both the refrigerator and freezer must have a thermometer and the temperature must be recorded weekly and posted in a visible location (refrigerator 41, freezer 0).
8. The agency/faith-based organization must accept full responsibility for the care, preparation, distribution, and use of food once it leaves the Food Bank.
We've posted some additional information to help you on the Membership Application procedures webpage.