The average food price has skyrocketed due to corona virus pandemic and recent events. The FAO Food Price Index has saw a fresh record high of nearly 160 points.
A shocking 60% price increase over the 2014-2016 base period shows that hunger is a public health issue of critical importance.
The most vulnerable demographic of society is taking the brunt of this economic pressure. Now more than ever, low-income families must rely on California Free Clinics, California Food Stamps, and food banks.
This guide will list helpful information about Food Bank in San Bernardino County, California and organizations that can help curb hunger, how you can use their services and where to find them.
What is a Food Bank?
Food banks are non-profit charitable organizations that assist financially vulnerable populations by distributing food. Their main objectives is to help low-income individual and families by providing food.
They will work through other 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations like food pantries and soup kitchens. Sometimes they distribute the food themselves via mobile pantry.
Food Bank in San Bernardino County, California serves as a single collection and distribution point for food donations. They operate much like a for-profit food distributor, but they do not use retailers. Instead, they may use church food banks, charities, and other non-profit food pantries to provide food to the people to fight hunger.
How the Food Bank Works?
- 1. Food is donated to a food bank.
- 2. Its stored in a big climate controlled warehouse.
- 3. Food Bank in San Bernardino County, California distributes food to various non-profits for distribution.
- 4. Food reaches to who are in need.
Who can use Food Banks?
Many Food Bank in San Bernardino County, California and food pantries are locally run, with others managed at the state or federal level. Qualification to receive nutrition assistance from food programs depends on the type.
There are different qualifying requirements, but many food banks have none. Just show up during their days and times of operation, and they will help if they are able.
Here are the tips while .
- It is highly advisable to call ahead before you arrive!
- Ask about any eligibility or documentation requirements they may have.
- If required, bring all required documents when you use their services.
Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Bank was the first one established in California in 1972 and is the second oldest in the US. It operates multiple distribution centers across the United States.
Impact of Second Harvest Food Bank is huge, It helps 85,000 Santa Cruz residents avoid missing meals and empty stomachs.
Second Harvest Food Bank in San Bernardino County, California is easing the burden of impossible choices for families between food, housing, medicine, and other necessities.
St. Mary's Food Bank
The St. Mary's Food Bank was a first local food bank ever established in the United States in 1967. The St. Mary's Food Bank mission is food security and hunger relief for all Americans.
The St. Mary's distributes millions of pounds of food to the hungry each year, It also operates its own food pantries to allow allow people to access food directly from their warehouses.
It also offer specialized after-school programs for kids and career training for adults.
Church Food Bank Food Bank in San Bernardino County, California
Church Food Bank Food Bank in San Bernardino County, California serve a hot, nutritious lunch 365 days a year, even in the face of terrible weather and ever-increasing demand.
Church Food Bank welcome anyone who is in need of a meal, regardless of the person's circumstance, with no questions asked. It also provide showers, laundry, mail, I.D. assistance and other essential services.
Feeding America
John van Hengel, the founder of St. Mary's Food Bank, went on to create a national organization for food banks. The Feeding America organization is a leader in the nation's domestic hunger-relief efforts.
The Coronavirus epidemic put even more pressure on America's most vulnerable citizens. Feeding America has helped serve 6.6 billion meals to date.
The Feeding America have grown through donations and other charitable efforts to be able to deliver much-needed food via food rescue, hunger relief programs, and disaster response.
GAP Food Bank
The GAP provides food for the working poor, single mothers, seniors on a fixed income, and under-privileged who are struggling to make ends meet.
Food Distribution Hours are every Thursday afternoon from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Please do do not arrive at the parking lot before 3:15 pm.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (909) 945-1020 to book your appointment.
Address :
8768 Helms Ave, SUITE A,
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Bernardino
The Blessing Center - Joseph’s Storehouse Food Bank
Joseph’s Storehouse Food Bank - We provide free food and clothing to over 900 families each week. One large food box, worth in excess of $75.00 of quality food products, is distributed to each family once a week. Client families can shop free clothing, baby care and other items in need which are also available during food distribution. Food and Clothing Distribution is: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (909) 793-5677 to book your appointment.
Address :
760 E Stuart Ave,
Redlands, CA 92374.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Redlands
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Bernardino
GAP Food Bank
The GAP {God Always Provides} Food Bank started out in the early 1990’s as one man’s vision of helping the working poor, single mothers, recovering addicts, seniors on a fixed income, and under-privileged who are struggling to make ends meet. The philosophy of the GAP is simple, to assist families each week by providing many basic food items. By providing food, the families are now better able to apply their limited financial resources to housing expenses and other necessities. The GAP started by distributing food out of a garage to families in the community. Almost 20 years later, the GAP is located in a 4500 sq. ft. warehouse in Rancho Cucamonga, equipped with a truck for large donation pick ups, a forklift, and walk-in freezer and refrigerator. The GAP Food Bank provides basic food items to approximately 450 families consisting of over 1500 individuals in the community per week. The GAP also supplies food to other local food banks and churches that are assisting needy families in the community as well. The average value of the food that is given to each family is between $75 and $100 per week, which amounts to over $2 million in food provided to the community per year. Approximately 65 volunteers each week help to provide food to the community. The GAP’s corporate food suppliers include Vons Grocery Store, Frito-Lay, Pepsi Company, Feed the Children, Traditional Baking, Inc., Sara Lee, Albertsons Grocery Store, Cerenzia Foods, Oscar Meyer, Nestle, Dreyers Grand, Baskin Robbins, Zacky Farms, and Starbucks. The goal of the GAP Food Bank is to provide food to the needy families in our community. Our immediate goal is to increase the number of families fed to 500 or more by continuing to feed the families at our facility as well as expanding the amount of food provided to other food banks, senior centers and churches. Without additional funding, we will be unable to purchase the food needed to meet this goal. The GAP's primary source of revenue is free-will donations from local churches, businesses and individuals.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (909) 945-1020 to book your appointment.
Address :
8768 Helms St Ste A,
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Rancho Cucamonga
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Bernardino
CAPSBC Food Bank
The Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) operates the San Bernardino County Food Bank; The CAPSBC Food Bank has been feeding needy people throughout San Bernardino County since 1984. The CAPSBC Food Bank acts as a clearinghouse for food; where we receive millions of pounds of food each year from the United States Department of Agriculture commodity food program, and from corporate donors, schools, groups, clubs, and compassionate individuals With the aid of approximately 147 local charitable non-profit organizations, and a small army of some 1569 loyal volunteers, our food is able to reach millions of needy persons throughout San Bernardino County, even into the furthest corners of our vast region.
Services provided :
- Prepared Foods
- Fresh Produce
- After School Snacks
- Senior Meal Delivery
- Emergency Box
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (909) 723-1580 to book your appointment.
Address :
678 S Tippecanoe Ave,
San Bernardino, CA 92415.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- San Bernardino
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Bernardino
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally run program that helps obtain badly needed food for low-income people and families. SNAP program is also known as Food Stamp.
SNAP benefits in San Bernardino County supplied approximately 40 million Americans in 2018. It is the most extensive nutrition program administered by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and is a vital component of the social safety net for low-income Americans.
In 2017, roughly 9.2% of American households obtained SNAP benefits, with about 16.7% of all children living in homes benefiting.
The program had used paper "stamps" or coupons in the past – worth $1 (brown), $5 (blue), and $10 (green). These were bound into small booklets of various denominations, to be torn out individually and used in single-use exchanges.
Free Food Programs Summary
| Acronym | Name | For Moms & Kids | For Seniors | For Food Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| TEFAP | The Emergency Food Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CSFP | The Commodity Supplemental Food Program | No | Yes | Yes |
| CACFP | The Child and Adult Care Food Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| NSLP | The National School Lunch Program | Yes | No | No |
| SBP | The School Breakfast Program | Yes | No | No |
| SFSP | The Summer Food Service Program | Yes | No | No |
| WIC | Women, Infants, and Children | Yes | No | No |
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food Bank?
Specifically, San Bernardino County food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. How do you qualify for San Bernardino County food bank assistance?
To qualify for food bank assistance you must provide:
- Current state-issued ID
- Social Security numbers of all household members
- Current electric bill to prove residence
- Bank Statement for income verification