Food Bank Summary
How Does a Food Bank work?
Food is donated or sold in bulk to the Food Bank from different sources such as supermarkets, Feeding Tampa Bay, food drives, farms, gardens, wholesalers, food brokers, and individuals. These food items are then collected, sorted, and distributed to 43+ approved agencies who distribute to individuals, families, seniors, working poor, homeless, and anyone else in need.
Who does the Food Bank serve?
The Community Food Bank serves 50+ agencies throughout Citrus, Hernando, and Sumter Counties. Our agency network distributes food to families, individuals, children, and seniors (37% of our population) affected by food insecurity.
Where does the Food Bank get its food?
- Major Supermarkets such as Publix, Walmart, Winn Dixie, and Save-A-Lot
- Other types of businesses such as CVS, etc.
- Feeding Tampa Bay
- County-wide Food Drives, ie. Post Office Food Drives
- Farms & gardens
- Wholesalers & Food Brokers
- Donations from various service groups and individuals
Does the Food Bank provide other product in addition to canned food?
Yes, the Community Food Bank distributes nutritious quality product such as fresh produce, dairy, eggs, bread, bakery, frozen meats as well as assorted groceries (packaged and canned), miscellaneous personal items, paper products, pet food, and baby items (food, diapers, wipes, etc).
What else does the Food Bank provide for besides food?
The Food Bank also distributes non-food items such as personal hygiene items, paper products, baby diapers, medical supplies, etc. and occasionally pet food when available.
How does the Food Bank help during a natural disaster?
The Community Food Bank partners with the Citrus County Emergency Operations Center, Salvation Army, and others to plan and prepare for potential disasters. Since the Community Food Bank is affiliated with Feeding Tampa Bay, we have the ability to call on them for any additional assistance we might need here in Citrus County. The Community Food Bank would be a local resource for food, water, and other needed supplies.
Does the Food Bank dispose of any food?
Sometimes the product the Community Food Bank receives through donations is deemed unfit for human consumption because of damaged product and/or packaging, potential contamination, out of date perishables, etc. In those cases which are infrequent, the Community Food Bank is able to dispose of this food to local pig farmers and local wildlife sanctuaries.
Food Bank Network
How many people does the Food Bank serve?
The Community Food Bank provides food to more than 70,000 individuals each month in the counties Citrus, Hernando, and Sumter through the 50+ agencies served.
How does the food get to the people in need?
The Community Food Bank distributes the food to the various non-profit agencies such as food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens who then distribute food to individuals and families. Each of the food pantries and soup kitchens have a regular scheduled day and time each week or each month when they distribute the food or when they provide meals to clients. The days and times vary for each agency. You can contact one of the agencies that is nearest to where you live to find out more about their distribution times or you can contact the Community Food Bank and we will get you the information you need. The shelters provide housing, meals, and other services for their clients to help them get back on their feet. The Community Food Bank also supports the Citrus County Blessings weekend backpack program for children suffering from food insecurity which includes a bag of food to take home on the weekend during the school year. Find an agency near you.
What is an “Agency”?
An “Agency” is a qualified and approved non-profit organization that partners with The Community Food Bank to distribute food to those in need. These agencies function under one or more of the following classifications:
- A food pantry that provides groceries to individuals and families in need.
- A shelter where food and lodging is provided to individual men and women to reside while they work to get back on their feet and at some point are able to live independently on their own again.
- A soup kitchen where hot meals are provided to individuals and families once a week or more oftentimes.
How does a charity become an agency?
Charities would normally submit an application and supporting data to qualify for membership. At this time, the Community Food Bank is not accepting new applications. We are however recommending that any agency wishing to support this mission team up with an existing agency near you. The advantages of doing this are significant with respect to consolidating for pantry storage, sharing refrigeration requirements, and the sharing of needed volunteer resources to be able to operate an agency in a professional and reliable manner. If you are interested in this approach, please contact the Community Food Bank and we will connect you with another agency in your area.
If I need assistance, how can I get it?
Individuals and families in need of food assistance should contact an agency near where they reside to determine if they qualify for assistance, how to register, and understand the level of assistance available to them. Please refer to our agency list or contact us at the Community Food Bank and we will assist you in finding an agency to contact.
Food Bank Finances
Is my donation tax deductible?
The Community Food Bank is a registered 501c(3) organization established in 2012. All monetary donations to the Community Food Bank are fully tax deductible.
How much of my donation goes to feeding people?
90 cents of every dollar donated is spent on Program Services and Food Distribution.
Should I donate money or food?
Both monetary and food donations are genuinely appreciated. Monetary tax-deductible donations to the Community Food Bank are preferred because of our ability to leverage our bulk purchasing power to increase the value of that donation. A $100 donation provides the equivalent of 1000 meals to help those in need.
Volunteering
How do I volunteer?
The Community Food Bank has a wide range of tasks and activities where we need volunteers to help us. Please contact us to find out what volunteer activities exist, what is involved, and to inform us what day(s) and times work best for you.
Can I bring a group to volunteer?
Groups are welcome; please contact the Community Food Bank to schedule a date and time.
Can children volunteer at the Food Bank? What is the age limit?
Children ages 14-17 can volunteer at the Community Food Bank with adult supervision.
Do you accept court-ordered community service volunteers?
The Community Food Bank works with local community service organizations who specialize in coordinating court-ordered community service volunteers. We welcome these individuals who are in need of community service hours. We only accept non-violent offenders.
Food Drives
Who do I contact if I want to start a food drive?
When organizing a local food drive in your neighborhood or community, we encourage you to partner with one or more of our member agencies located in your neighborhood. If you wish to establish a county-wide food drive, please Contact Us and we will help you organize it.
What kind of food and other products are needed?
The Community Food Bank and all of our approved agencies are in need of nutritious, non-perishable foods such as canned entrees, vegetables, fruit, pasta sauce, or soups; packaged products like cereals, pasta, etc.; peanut butter and jelly; paper products; disposable diapers; personal hygiene products; and more.
Can the Food Bank pick up my collection?
Donations can be dropped off at our location. If you are unable to drop off your donation, please contact us to make arrangements for pick up.
How do I handle cash and credit card donations?
The Community Food Bank accepts donations at any time. Donations will be accepted at our Physical Location at 5259 W Cardinal Street, Building B, Homosassa, FL 34446. You will receive an acknowledgement and receipt for all donations. You can also donate by credit card securely by clicking the link below.
