Food Bank

The Agape Food Bank
Catholic Charities has operated the Agape Food Bank in Lakeland, Florida since 1983.

Goals
The goals of the Agape Food Bank are to serve as a link in the distribution network of local, state, and federal sources of food and other products; to provide food warehousing as a resource center to local not-for-profit food distributors; and to reduce waste and ensure that excess or otherwise unsaleable food and other products reach the tables of the needy.

In 2005 Agape provided over 2.5 million pounds of meats, dairy products, drinks, and canned and packaged food to the needy and is expected to provide over 3 million pounds in 2006.

What We Do
The Agape Food Bank supports over two hundred not-for-profit member agencies, helping them to meet the needs of the community.

Any not-for-profit group is welcome to draw from the Agape Food Bank as long as they agree to disperse the food to the hungry free of charge. Member agencies include social service agencies, churches, soup kitchens, emergency food pantries, senior centers, and service organizations with pantries or on-site feeding programs.

How We Do It
Through distributors, manufacturers, growers, wholesalers, and grocery chains the Agape Food Bank receives pallets of donated food in case lots. These donations include food products that do not meet precise industry standards due to labeling errors, overruns, discontinued products, or quality control mistakes. Household necessities and personal care products such as cleaning and sanitation products, diapers, soaps and detergents may also be donated. Additionally, food drives sponsored by corporations, clubs, associations, schools and individuals help supply Agape throughout the year with hundreds of thousands of pounds of non-perishable food items.

In turn, the member agencies access the food through the Agape Food Bank and provide it to their needy.

Agape also provides USDA commodities to the needy through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The US Department of Agriculture purchases food from US farmers and makes it available to feeding programs through the Agape Food Bank.

Volunteers
Volunteers are essential and vital to the functioning of the Agape Food Bank providing tremendous contributions working in the Food Bank. Volunteers serve sorting salvage food, consolidating and boxing items for agency access, providing office assistance and much more.

Any charitable, not-for-profit organization seeking qualification as a member agency or any individual wishing to volunteer may contact the Agape Food Bank at (863) 686-7074.

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington D.C. 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 or 202-720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Food Pantry

Food pantries are an important part of the Family Services program. Pantries provide a valuable resource when a breadwinner is unable to work, when a family is awaiting food stamps or when financial demands on a family make food purchases difficult.

With the daily help of many volunteers, tons of products are distributed each week through Catholic Charities. Thousands of needy people receive groceries, frozen foods, bakery items, special diet needs, baby food, formula, and diapers. Paper products, personal hygiene items, and laundry soap are also available. Each recipient is carefully screened by a social worker to determine the extent of need.

Off-site programs such as half-way houses for prisoners, mental health patient residences, sharing centers, and thrift stores all benefit from Catholic Charities pantries.

Click Here for Locations.