Food bank (the twisted world of non-prof Pt. II)

I recently received a flyer on my front door from a local boy scout troop. They are collecting non-perishable food for the local food bank.

I've always wanted to explain to others just what the food bank is. This report is NOT a slanderous expose' nor is it written with an ill heart. The local food bank was VERY good to the izzy group. Once upon a time (several years back) the izzy group was their largest customer.

Food banks across the nation are, by and large, a middle man, much like the United Way (see 10/9/05 blog entry). They do not per se give food to needy people (despite what some advertising and propaganda allude to). They DO however receive food donations from various grocers, restaurants, and wholesalers in exchange for a tax write-off. Then this donated product is SOLD by the pound to registered non-profs like church food pantries, orphanages, etc. The price is fair in comparisson to retail grocers. But often their product sucks since it's often expired, out of season (like easter candy), junk food (like easter candy), or food nobody bought for obvious reasons (it sucked).

If you are some sort of food outreach ministry or non-profit shenanigan...the price IS a good deal. If you take $100 to a local grocery store you might walk out with 4-5 bags full. But $100 would fill up a pickup bed and then some at the food bank. 5 bags of good food or a pickup full of potential crap. It's your gamble.

There are, of course, rules to abide by with food bank food:

1) You must have a 501(c)3 - [IRS non-prof number]. 99.9% of churches in the US have this number, even though there is nothing in US law that states a church MUST have one. Don't even get me started...
2) The food purchased cannot be bartered, sold, or exchanged. Understood, except they're selling it. So I guess they can exempt themselves.

Besides local vendors, the food bank also receives product from the US government called USDA food. And to purchase USDA food from the food bank...all types of hoops must be jumped through.

Rumor has it that there is now a thick manual of rules and regulations from the government for USDA food. I have not read nor seen this manual. So, based on what was told to me by several individuals, here are my very liberal quotes and smart-ass responses:
-if handicapped people want your food, you MUST provide ramps and adequate facility for them...well...OK
-if a person who speaks another language wants your food, you MUST provide an interpretor for them...MUST?? or WHAT? You gonna send Jesse Jackson?!?
-if a person of another religion is offended at the religion of the food-giving establishment, then that establishment MUST provide a place for their religion to feel at home. Like build a mosque in your church sanctuary or something like that...What the...that's it...I'm outta here.

I have yet to hear of the government hammering down on a church for not building a mosque. But appearantly the wording is in the manuel. USDA food - yet another reason why the church should stay away from the government. I met a woman who runs the food pantry for one of the hoity-toity church clubs in town. She gave the proverbial "up yours" to the food bank due to these USDA guidelines. She now stocks their pantry strictly with donations and purchases from wholesale clubs.

The food bank can be a neccessary entity in the community. BUT KNOW that when you donate to them...you are NOT giving directly to hungry people. You ARE giving to an organization who in turn, sells to other organizations, who in turn may give to someone considered hungry or needy.

As always, I encourage people to develope lasting friendships and relationships with individuals who are poor. However, this may not be an option for everyone in our society. So donate food to the local food bank if:
1) you don't know any poor people to help with food
2) you don't know of any local organization that gives away food for free

When izzy had an operational food pantry to the poor, I tried numerous times to skip the middle man (the local food bank) and go directly to the grocers, restaurants, and wholesalers. I figured we could give them the same tax right-off they sought after. I was shocked as every single place I approached stopped me in mid sentence with "we give to the food bank". It's real political. Someone's getting some backs scratched somewhere.

Then again, the food bank adds the convenience of being a single place to shop for food as opposed to running all over the city trying to collect a variety of donations. That would be a full time job in itself. The local food bank is a HUGE convenience.

Institutions...guess we gotta live with them.