What Is Feeding America

Feeding America is the largest hunger relief organization in the United States. Founded in 1979 as Second Harvest, it serves as the national backbone for a network of regional and local food banks across all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. It is not a government program — it is a nonprofit that coordinates the nation's largest private food distribution infrastructure.

Feeding America does not distribute food to individuals directly. Instead, it operates at two levels: nationally (sourcing large quantities of food from food manufacturers, retailers, and government programs, and distributing that food to member food banks) and as a standard-setter and support organization for the 200 food banks in its network.

The scale is significant. In 2024, the Feeding America network distributed approximately 5.3 billion meals through its member food banks and 60,000 affiliated food pantries, meal programs, and other partner agencies. That translates to roughly 14.4 million meals distributed every single day.

How the Distribution Network Works

Understanding the structure helps you find the right resource when you need help. The system operates in three tiers:

Tier 1 — Feeding America (national): Sources large quantities of food from corporate partners (General Mills, Walmart, Amazon, restaurant chains), retail food rescue (grocery stores donating near-expired food), government commodity programs (USDA TEFAP), and agricultural surplus. This food is distributed to member food banks based on local need data.

Tier 2 — Member food banks (regional): There are 200 Feeding America member food banks. Each serves a specific geographic region — a county, a group of counties, or in some cases an entire state. The food bank receives food from Feeding America and other local donors, stores it in a central warehouse, and distributes it to partner agencies (local pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other programs) in its service area.

Tier 3 — Partner agencies (local): These are the 60,000+ local food pantries, soup kitchens, after-school programs, senior centers, and other community organizations that receive food from member food banks and distribute it directly to individuals and families. This is the tier where the public interacts with the network.

When you visit a local food pantry that is part of the Feeding America network, the food you receive typically came from the regional food bank, which received it from a mix of Feeding America national sourcing, local retail donations, and USDA commodity programs.

Finding Your Local Feeding America Food Bank

The easiest way to find your regional Feeding America food bank and its local partner agencies is through the online locator at feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank. Enter your zip code to get your food bank's name, address, phone number, and website.

Your regional food bank's website will list the partner agencies (pantries, meal programs) in your specific community, with hours and addresses. This is generally the most comprehensive and up-to-date listing for your area.

You can also call the national Feeding America helpline or your regional food bank directly to ask about resources in your specific zip code. Call 211 as an alternative — operators have real-time information on open pantries and available services.

MealConnect — How Food Gets Rescued from Retail

One of Feeding America's most significant contributions to the food system is MealConnect, a technology platform that facilitates food recovery from retail businesses. When a grocery store, restaurant, cafeteria, or other food business has surplus food — prepared meals that won't be served, produce at its sell-by date, overstocked items — MealConnect allows them to post the donation and coordinates pickup by local food agencies, often within hours.

MealConnect facilitates billions of pounds of food recovery annually. For food pantry visitors, the practical impact is the availability of fresh, often high-quality food that would otherwise go to waste — restaurant surplus meals, bakery items, fresh produce, and prepared foods alongside the shelf-stable items that form the core of most distributions.

If you notice your local food pantry distributing restaurant meals or fresh-baked goods, that food likely came through MealConnect or a similar retail food rescue operation at the regional food bank level.

Specific Programs — BackPack, Kids Cafe, CSFP

Beyond the standard pantry model, Feeding America member food banks run several targeted programs worth knowing about:

BackPack Program: Provides weekly bags of child-friendly, easy-to-prepare food to food-insecure children at their schools. Children take the bags home on Fridays to ensure they have food through the weekend and any school breaks. BackPack programs operate in partnership with schools and are typically identified through the school counselor or principal. If you have children at a school in a lower-income area, ask whether a BackPack program is available.

Kids Cafe: After-school meal and snack programs operated through food banks in partnership with community organizations. Kids under 18 receive free afterschool snacks and meals at participating sites — libraries, community centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, and similar locations.

CSFP — Commodity Supplemental Food Program: A USDA-funded program administered through food banks that provides monthly food boxes to low-income adults age 60 and older. Each monthly box includes a mix of canned goods, cereal, pasta, peanut butter, and dairy products. CSFP has income eligibility requirements (at or below 130% FPL) and distributes through designated local agencies. Contact your regional Feeding America food bank to find CSFP distribution sites near you.

SNAP Outreach Through Feeding America

Many Feeding America food banks conduct active SNAP outreach — helping food pantry visitors apply for SNAP, screening for eligibility, and connecting people to state enrollment systems. This is based on the recognition that food banks alone can't solve food insecurity, and that SNAP provides more consistent and comprehensive assistance than pantry distributions.

If you visit a Feeding America food bank or affiliated pantry and are not currently receiving SNAP, ask whether SNAP application assistance is available on site. Many food banks have trained benefits navigators or enrollment stations. Some hold dedicated SNAP enrollment events.

For a self-service SNAP estimate, use the SNAP Benefits Estimator. For the application process, see How to Apply for SNAP.

Senior Nutrition Programs Through Feeding America

Feeding America member food banks operate several programs specifically designed for seniors, recognizing that older adults face unique barriers to food access including limited mobility, fixed incomes, and social isolation.

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), administered through Feeding America food banks in partnership with the USDA, provides monthly food boxes to low-income adults age 60 and older. Each box contains a mix of shelf-stable items calibrated to older adult nutritional needs: canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, cereal, peanut butter, canned fish, and shelf-stable dairy. CSFP has a separate income eligibility requirement (at or below 130% FPL) and is distributed at designated local agencies. Contact your regional Feeding America food bank to find CSFP sites near you.

Home delivery programs — operated through food banks, Area Agencies on Aging, and Meals on Wheels networks — bring food directly to homebound seniors who cannot visit a pantry. These programs vary in availability and may have waitlists in some areas. Call your local Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-677-1116 to ask about home food delivery options, or contact your regional Feeding America food bank directly.

Many Feeding America food banks also conduct SNAP outreach specifically targeting seniors — the most under-enrolled eligible population in the SNAP program. If you are a senior who visits a food bank or pantry and are not currently receiving SNAP, ask whether a benefits enrollment specialist is available. See SNAP for Seniors for a full guide to the special rules and advantages that apply to senior SNAP households.

How to Support Feeding America

If you're in a position to give back — whether through food, time, or financial support — the Feeding America network offers several options:

  • Donate online — Contributions to Feeding America are distributed to food banks with the greatest need. Go to feedingamerica.org/take-action to donate.
  • Volunteer at your local food bank — Food banks need warehouse volunteers, pantry volunteers, food rescue drivers, and event helpers. Contact your regional food bank directly to find volunteer opportunities.
  • Host a food drive — Schools, workplaces, churches, and community groups can host food drives for their local food bank. Most food banks provide collection materials and promotional resources.
  • Advocate for food policy — Feeding America publishes federal and state food policy priorities each legislative session. Supporting SNAP, TEFAP, and child nutrition programs through civic engagement amplifies the network's impact beyond donations.

For local assistance across food, housing, and health programs, see the Local Assistance Directory.