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What We Do

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What We Do

Food Bank of Central New York is a not-for-profit organization leading the effort to eliminate hunger in our region, by partnership with others in our community, through education, advocacy, and distribution of nutritious food. We partner with 360 community partners in the counties of Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and St. Lawrence.

The core of our work is achieved by partnering with local agencies that distribute food to individuals and families in need. The key partners that make up our emergency food network are food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters. Other not-for-profit agencies such as day care centers, rehabilitation centers, senior centers, and group homes are able to utilize membership as a way to supplement their agency food needs.

Where Our Food Comes From

Donated Foods: We rely on food donations from food manufacturers, grocers, wholesalers, businesses, and individuals to supplement our food inventory. These donations help to stretch our partner agencies' food budgets and enhance their inventories.

USDA Foods: The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides commodity foods like meats, vegetables, and fruits to the Food Bank to distribute to food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters that provide food assistance to those in need.

Wholesale Foods: We are able to complement donated food with food we purchase for our inventory. Due to our vendor agreements, we are able to purchase large amounts of high-demand foods — more than 100 different types — and offer these foods to our agencies at cost.