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 Florida Free Clinics, Florida Food Stamps, and food banks.
This guide will list helpful information about Food Bank in Hillsborough County, Florida 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 Hillsborough County, Florida 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 Hillsborough County, Florida 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 Hillsborough County, Florida 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 Hillsborough County, Florida 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 Hillsborough County, Florida
Church Food Bank Food Bank in Hillsborough County, Florida 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.
Saint Bartholomew'S Episcopal Church Emergency Food Bank
The St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church Emergency Food Bank provides food for people in need in our community. We distribute nonperishable groceries to families on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. On the alternate Sundays we prepare the bags the St. Bart’s parishioners participate in this ministry between church services and after because it is keeps liturgy and service together. When available, we also provide household pantry items (dishwashing soap, hand soap, laundry soap and tooth brushes).
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 (727) 867-7015 to book your appointment.
Address :
3747 34th St S,
Saint Petersburg, FL 33711.
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:
- Hernando
- Hillsborough
- Pasco
- Pinellas
First Baptist Church of Gibsonton - Food Bank
First Baptist Gibsonton offers its parishioners that qualify, a limited membership to our Food Bank. There are restrictions and limits in place so everyone that attends church regularly and is in need of help with groceries to make ends meet is afforded an opportunity to receive a blessing from this food ministry.
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 (813) 677-1301 to book your appointment.
Address :
9912 Indiana St,
Gibsonton, FL 33534.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Gibsonton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Hillsborough
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.
Kaye Prox Food Bank
Kaye Prox Food Bank is an all-volunteer ecumenical organization dedicated to providing emergency food to families in need and to the elderly in the community.
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 (813) 884-1232 to book your appointment.
Address :
8401 W Hillsborough Ave,
Tampa, FL 33615.
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:
- Hillsborough
United Food Bank of Plant City
United Food Bank and Services of Plant City provides assistance for the needy by moving them from a “state of hunger” and “impoverishment” to self-sufficiency, empowerment and self-reliance.
Food distribution program serves food on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 12:00-3:30 pm, with late hours on Tuesday 12:00-6:45 pm for those in need living in Eastern Hillsborough County.
Documents required to receive assistance are:
-Current Photo Id (Driver’s license or state ID)
-Original social security cards for all family members receiving help
-Current proof of address;
-Utility Bill, Rent Receipt or Lease Agreement.
Please call us at 813 764-0625 to get more information.
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 (813) 764-0625 to book your appointment.
Address :
702 E Alsobrook St,
Plant City, FL 33563.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 06:45 PM
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Hillsborough
Nativity Food Bank
Nativity Food Bank supplements 47 small food pantries and street ministries on a weekly basis and 14 others occasionally. These organizations are registered to determine need and tax-exempt status. Also, 93,368 pounds of pet food was distributed to a local pet charity in the area.
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 (813) 707-1523 to book your appointment.
Address :
13295 Us Hwy 92 E,
Dover, FL 33527.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Dover
Help Residents of Counties:
- Hillsborough
Operation Productive Endeavor - Food Bank
The Food Bank provides food to people at risk of hunger in the greater Tampa Bay. During the past several years more than 7,000 individuals and families have been fed via our food bank. The Food Bank is here for you in times of emergency and is open to all. Recipients must bring in a valid photo ID and proof of residence. Recipients are able to be served no more than once a month. Assistance is available Wednesday through Friday from 10am-4pm.
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 (813) 622-7151 to book your appointment.
Address :
6912 Williams Rd,
Seffner, FL 33584.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Seffner
Help Residents of Counties:
- Hillsborough
Tampa Jewish Family Services - Citrus Park/Food Bank
Tampa Jewish Family Services embodies the time-honored tradition of community, of people helping and caring for one another. TJFS is a non-profit human service agency for people of all ages and all walks of life, regardless of race or religion. TJFS offers the community a vast array of services and programs that span across all segments of our lives, from counseling and programs for children to senior adult services that include counseling, Jewish connections and holiday food delivery. From one generation to the next, our obligation is to feed the hungry, guide those in trouble and improve lives. The Community Food Bank offers food to individuals and families once a month at each of its two locations. Emergency Food Bags are available Monday – Friday. Appointments are required for both types of food distribution. Call 813-960-1848 to make an appointment. Tampa Jewish Family Services never turns anyone away. In a given year, Tampa Jewish Family Services’ Community Food Bank packs nearly 5,500 bags of food and strives to provide a well-balanced supplement to more than 450 households throughout Hillsborough County each month. The Food Bank primarily operates through the efforts of faithful hardworking volunteers. It is the mission of the Food Bank to help meet the nutritional and social needs of the hungry in the Tampa Bay community. Tampa Jewish Family Services operates its Community Food Bank at two locations. The main location is at the agency’s headquarters in Citrus Park, and a satellite location in Brandon serves Eastern Hillsborough County. Citrus Park Food Bank Distribution Dates: First Tuesday Each Month 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., 4:30 – 6 p.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 (813) 960-1848 to book your appointment.
Address :
13009 Community Campus Dr,
Tampa, FL 33625.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
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- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Tampa
Help Residents of Counties:
- Hillsborough
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 Hillsborough 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, Hillsborough 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 Hillsborough 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