That's Caring Partner Spotlight: Learn More about Our Partner Food Banks & Organizations
That's Caring is fortunate enough to partner with amazing organizations dedicated to solving childhood hunger. Here are some quick facts about each of our partners are solving hunger, with the help of you and That’s Caring.
Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB)
The Capital Area Food Bank creates access to good, healthy food for people in the Washington, D.C. area, helping feed over 540,000 people a year—that's 12% of their community.
With 11 different programs and 444 partner organizations, they are actively creating solutions for the hunger problem in the DC metropolitan area. In 2015 alone, they distributed 44 million pounds of fruits, vegetables and groceries in their community.
Backpack Details:
Over 200,000 teens and kids are at risk of hunger in the Washington, D.C. metro area. CAFB established their weekend bag program in 2002 to make sure these kids get a chance to have a nutritious meal and are now serving communities where at least 50% of the children in local schools are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
Gleaners Food Bank of Southern Michigan (GFBSM)
Over 38 years serving their community, GFBSM has truly lived up to their goal of not only feeding the hungry, but also nourishing the community. By collecting over 39 million pounds of food a year, they can provide the Detroit area with 89,000 meals every day.
They have programs targeting different victims of hunger and host numerous events to gather community support each year.
Backpack Program Details:
GFBSM wants to ensure that the almost 300,000 kids who rely on meals provided by the school are fed outside of school programs. Their BackPack program supplies kids with nonperishable food items that will sustain them throughout the weekend.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (LARFB)
In the Los Angeles area, an estimated 1.4 million people struggle with hunger. Over the last 40 years, LARFB has provided over one billion pounds of food to their clients. In 2016, they distributed 55 million meals—over 62 million pounds of food. They work with over 30,000 volunteers and 625 partners a year to solve hunger in their community.
Backpack Program Details:
One in four kids in LARFB's community struggles with hunger. Their BackPack program reaches these kids and ensures that they are not only sustained during the National School Lunch Program, but also over the summers and weekends. In 2016, LARFB distributed over 33,000 backpacks to children.
North Texas Food Bank (NTFB)
The North Texas Food Bank passionately pursues a hunger-free community, providing 70 million nutritious meals in 2016 alone. Founded in 1992, they've grown to operate in 13 counties and with over 200 partner organizations. Every dollar donated to NTFB provides three meals for people in their community.
They have programs dedicated to feeding different groups in different areas, addressing all those struggling with hunger in North Texas.
Backpack Program Details:
NTFB's weekend bag program is one of the largest we work with. The program operates in 10 counties across North Texas, reaching 365 schools and providing nutritious weekend groceries for 12,000 children every week.
Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB)
NIFB was established in 1983 to serve the communities in Northern Illinois and around Chicago as the city had—and still has—many of its own programs and organizations, but there were many hungry people living in the surrounding counties.
They have thrived ever since, feeding 71,500 people each week across 13 counties.
Partnering with 800 local organizations and facilities, they are able to turn a $1 donation into $8 worth of groceries, getting the most out of every cent they receive to make a truly great impact.
Backpack Program Details:
NIFB's BackPack program completes a full week of nutrition for children in their 13-county service area. They also have a Summer Meal Program that served over 285,000 meals in the summer of 2016 alone.
Food Bank of Northeast Georgia (FBNEGA)
When they opened in 1992, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia served 350,000 pounds of food to their community. Now, they serve over 12 million pounds of food a year and partner with 225 organizations.
They've established regional branches and targeted programs to ensure that everyone in their community is receiving the help they need.
Backpack Program Details:
Though they started by feeding 80 students in one county, the food bank BackPack program spread to feed more than 1900 children across their service area every week.
Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ)
The Community Food Bank of New Jersey provides food and assistance to the entire state, either through their own facilities or in partnership with other agencies and organizations. CFBNJ began when one woman, Kathleen DiChiara, started giving people in need groceries from the trunk of her car.
They have grown to distribute more than 50 million pounds of food every year through their partners and provide 4.7 million meals to their community.
Backpack Program Details:
Every week, CFBNJ provides weekend meals to 1,500 children in 10 cities across New Jersey with shelf-stable, nutritious ingredients that give them the energy to thrive.
Second Harvest Food Bank Metrolina (SHFBM)
SHFBM serves 14 counties in North Carolina and five in South Carolina, partnering with over 700 organizations to distribute food and supplies. More than 527,000 people in their service area struggle with hunger, which is about 18% of their population.
Each year, SHFBM distributes over 50 million pounds of food and other supplies through programs designed to reach those struggling with hunger in their community.
Backpack Program Details:
SHFBM's weekend bag program coordinates with schools to provide some of the 180,000 children in their service area with nutritious, easy-to-prepare weekend meals.
Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB)
Serving the metropolitan areas of Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Yemassee in South Carolina, LCFB provides the 10 coastal counties with food and supplies. In 2016 alone, they distributed over 25 million pounds of food, including 6 million pounds of fresh produce.
Backpack Program Details:
LCFB partners with more than 40 schools to provide hungry children with weekend meal supplies. They distribute over 3,200 backpacks a week, and 75% of parents say that their children showed improved health.
Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR)
FBR provides their expansive service area—which includes 30 counties in Colorado and the entire state of Wyoming—with 131,449 meals every day. They partner with 500 partner relief agencies and have facilities of their own in Denver, Wyoming and on the Western Slope.
Backpack Program Details:
Nearly 50% of the people FBR serves are children. Their weekend bag program, called Totes of Hope, provides children in food-insecure households with 8-9 pounds of nutritious food every weekend.
Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB)
GBFB serves the entirety of the Boston area and Eastern Massachusetts and feeds over 140,000 people every month. In the last few years, GBFB has been providing more than 57.7 million pounds of food in 190 Massachusetts cities each year.
From GBFB's establishment in 1974 to 2015, they provided their community with over 600 million pounds of nutritious food.
Backpack Program Details:
Through school food pantries, where children and their parents can go to fill bags with groceries for the weekend and evenings, GBFB helps in nine schools that struggle most with hunger. Their school pantries feature nutritious, shelf-stable and culturally diverse foods.
We're always looking for more partners and strive to work with a food bank in every state. Have any suggestions? Let us know by commenting below, contacting us or giving us a call at 224-366-5323.