AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NORTHEAST IOWA FOOD BANK



AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NORTHEAST IOWA FOOD BANK

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Member Agency of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. Here’s some information about us, and the rights and responsibilities of our members.

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank is a community-based program established initially as a food pantry serving Black Hawk County. It then expanded to meet the hunger and nutritional needs of the people in 16 counties in Northeast Iowa by becoming a part of Feeding America, then known as Second Harvest. Since 1981, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank has provided nutritious food and grocery products to individuals, families and nonprofit organizations in Northeast Iowa. We are one of 200 food banks that make up Feeding America, a national organization designed to fight hunger in the US. Our mission is accomplished through the following programs:

• Member Agency Distribution - Provides food and grocery products to roughly 200 qualified nonprofit organizations in 16 Northeast Iowa counties. Last year we distributed more than 8 million meals to member agencies, programs and other food banks.

• Cedar Valley Food Pantry - provides food and grocery products to about 2,200 households in Black Hawk County on a monthly basis.

• Kids Cafe - is an after-school meal program that not only provides a meal or snack for children, but also a safe place to go after school. Through this program, more than 57,000 meals and snacks are served to children at five Black Hawk County locations annually.

• Summer Feeding - is a program that exists to feed children through the summer when school meals are not available.

• Elderly Nutrition Program - (in collaboration with Northeast Iowa Area Agencies on Aging) provides supplemental food boxes and weekend meal bags to 1,700 seniors in 13 counties monthly.

• BackPack Program - In collaboration with schools in 16 counties, provides a backpack of food to children in need. Each month, backpacks are distributed to more than 5,000 children at 137 sites.

• Mobile Food Pantry - works with under-served communities and provides food directly to needy individuals in those areas. Each Mobile Food Pantry serves over 5,000 pounds of nutritious food to an average of 100 households.

• Community Garden - is on-site and provides fresh produce seasonally to clients of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.

Why Food Banks and Food Rescue Organizations Exist

The purpose of food banking is to prevent usable food from going to waste and to channel this food to hungry people and organizations that serve people in need. Northeast Iowa Food Bank (NEIFB) collects food from local, regional and national donors such as manufacturers, processors, growers, wholesalers and retailers. We act as a warehouse to distribute this food to non-profit organizations with congregate meal programs and emergency food programs that serve the ill, needy (impoverished) or infants (minor children).

Feeding America’s network now constitutes over 200 regional food banks that distributed 4 billion meals, providing emergency food assistance to more than 46 million hungry Americans, including 12 million children and 7 million seniors. Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs that provides food and services to people each year. Together, we are the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization. Our network serves virtually every community in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The process of getting food to hungry Americans requires a dynamic infrastructure and sophisticated management. Feeding America secures donations from national food and grocery manufacturers, retailers, shippers, packers and growers and from government agencies and other organizations. Feeding America then moves donated food and grocery product to member food banks.

The food banks in turn distribute food and grocery items through food pantries and meal programs that serve families, children, seniors and others at risk of hunger. Last year alone, the Feeding America network distributed more than 4 billion meals to people in need.

Feeding America nationwide network of food banks also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger.

Food banks distribute grocery products which are over produced, nearing expiration date, damaged, mislabeled, improperly weighed, or cosmetically imperfect. Most organizations find that food banks are an excellent way to stretch their program budgets.

Member Agencies pay shared maintenance fees between $0 and $.19 per pound of product obtained through the NEIFB. Annual membership fees are assessed according to the number of programs an agency has—contact the Director of Network Relations for more information. All fees are non-refundable and subject to change.

How to Become a Member Agency

The typical procedure for establishing an agency as a member of Northeast Iowa Food Bank involves several steps:

1. Obtain, complete, and return an application. To be returned with the application:

a. Copy of the organization’s federal non-profit status letter/501(c)(3)

b. A completed application

c. $50 nonrefundable application fee (no personal checks or cash can be accepted)

d. List of your board of directors, including contact information

e. A copy of license for service or Health Department Certification (congregate meal programs only)

2. An NEIFB staff member will conduct a site visit at your location

3. If approved, the organization will be accepted as a member agency

4. Your agency will be required to complete Food Safety and Civil Rights training prior to ordering

5. New member agencies are required to visit the food bank for a tour and orientation.

These forms and your check should be submitted to the Director of Network Relations. Upon completion of the initial approval process, an on-site monitoring visit and site approval is required before being accepted as a Member Agency. You’ll receive the final determination via mail. Once accepted, you will receive training at the Food Bank and will be required to complete mandatory Food Safety and Civil Rights training prior to utilizing the NEIFB services.

Thank you for your interest in joining the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. Together, we can make a difference to help families in need. Please contact the Director of Network Relations with any questions or concerns you may have.

Rev. 7/19

Starting an Agency Checklist

□ Name a Board of Directors

□ Determine what entity will be the 501c3 sponsor

□ Create a mission statement and purpose

□ Develop roles and responsibilities for the board and

volunteers

□ Secure an accessible and convenient location

□ Discuss insurance needs with local agent

□ Determine the distribution or meal schedule and rules

□ Create a budget, including funding sources

□ Complete and submit NEIFB membership

application

□ Recruit and train volunteers

□ Complete Snap Outreach, Food Safety and Civil

Rights training for volunteers and any employees

Pantry Distribution Schedule and Rules Checklist

□ Determine pantry hours, with at least one evening or

weekend distribution

□ Develop an intake procedure based on self-referrals

and the completion of a TEFAP form

□ Determine how often households can receive food

(minimum once/month) and how much (100 lbs./month

minimum recommended)

□ Design pantry to allow client choice

□ Determine product mix, including fresh produce,

meat and poultry

NORTHEAST IOWA FOOD BANK

1605 Lafayette St.

Waterloo, IA 50704

Phone: 319-235-0507 or 1-888- NEIFB4U (634-3248)

Fax: 319-235-1027



Date: ___________________________

Name of Agency: _________________________________________________________

Name of Program: ________________________________________________________

Site Address: ____________________________________________________________

Phone Number: ______________________

Email address (required): __________________________________________________

Director of Agency: _______________________________________________________

Director of Food Program: _________________________

If additional space is required, please attach extra sheets.

Are you a designated 501(c) 3 non-profit charitable organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Code Section 170 (e) 3? _________Yes _________No

Tax ID Number _________________________

Has your organization been in operation for at least 6 months? _____Yes _____ No (A copy of the IRS Letter of Determination must accompany this application, if not already on file.)

What is the primary purpose of your agency?

____Food Provider (Pantry/Shelter)

____Community Meal Program

____On-site Meal Program

____After School Programming

____Other (Describe: ________________________________________)

On-site meal/Community Meal programs only:

Does your agency provide meals on your premises? (On-site meal programs

only) ____Yes ____No If yes, please describe:

How often are meals provided? ____Daily ____Weekly ____Monthly ____Seasonal

Number of people served? _____ Breakfast _____Lunch _____Dinner _____ Holiday

Are at least 51% of the people you serve considered needy? ____Yes ____No If yes, please describe how this is determined:

Describe the type of records your agency retains concerning your food program. (i.e.) number of people served, names of people, how often served, number of meals, eligibility; etc. (Please attach blank copies.)

Pantry/Shelter programs only:

Describe the type of records your agency retains concerning your pantry distribution. (i.e.) number of individuals served per month, number of families per month, pounds of grocery products distributed, pounds of grocery products donated from community. Forms used to determine the amount of grocery products distributed to recipients. (Please attach blank copies)

Does your agency distribute Food Boxes? ____Yes ____No If yes, please describe:

Number of Food boxes distributed: ____Weekly ____Monthly

GENERAL QUESTIONS:

Storage:

____Dry Storage ____ Refrigeration ____Freezer

Please describe your storage area - shelving, square feet of storage space, amount and size of refrigerators/freezers.

What percent of your clients are considered low-income (REQUIRED)? ________%

Has the percent of your budget for food increased or decreased in the last 6 months?

If yes, how much: ________________________________________________

Describe your inventory control procedures (First in first out, order on need basis, etc.):

Does your agency prefer: ____Pick-up ____ Delivery

If delivery, do you prefer: ____Weekly ____Monthly ____Other:_____________

Does your agency understand that the Shared Maintenance Fees cannot be passed on to program participants? ____ Yes ____ No

Are you a member of any other Food Bank(s)? ____Yes ____No

Check the range that best describes the number of people that you serve:

____0-50 ____200-400

____51-200 ____401-500 ____Other

What is your geographic service area?

Describe how you promote your program within the community?

What are your hours of operation?

What is your verification process? Who decides who is eligible to receive assistance?

Please provide the verification guidelines for your program.

Describe any restrictions placed on those people to whom your agency provides food assistance.

Does your agency accept referrals from the other organizations? ____Yes ____No

If Yes, from whom: __________________________________________________

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Authorized Shoppers (3 maximum) ___________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Send Financial Documents to:

Name: _____________________________

Address: ___________________________

__________________________________

Phone: ____________________________ (If different than agency phone number)

Send email notices to:

Name: ______________________________________

Email address: ________________________________

______________________________________________ _________________

(Signature of Site Coordinator/Director) (Date)

Approved by:

______________________________________________ _________________

(Network Relations Coordinator, NEIFB) (Date)

______________________________________________ _________________

(Director of Network Relations, NEIFB) (Date)

Rev. 8/18

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download