WHO IS FOOD Share?
FOOD Share is a food bank that houses and distributes millions of pounds of food per year to the hungry of Ventura County. We operate a physical plant of roughly 36, 000 square feet of warehouse space in addition to the support staff offices and administration. The food bank employs a core staff in key positions to receive, inventory, store and distribute food to disseminate via a partner and agency distribution method.
FOOD Share is a member of Feeding America and the California Association of Food Banks. FOOD Share also has a partner distribution organization in Kern County.
HOW DOES FOOD Share FEED THE HUNGRY?
FOOD Share collects and receives food year-round and utilizes a distribution method that includes partners and agencies located throughout the county. Our network of partners provides the pantries, congregate meal sites, brown bag-USDA distributions and produce outreach efforts. Thirteen sites are able to distribute specialized purchased healthy snacks to children through their after-school programs. FOOD Share provides the necessary food to the 155 partners to feed the hungry in their local communities.
WHERE DOES FOOD Share GET THE FOOD?
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FOOD Share is the USDA commodity distribution agency along with the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (formerly called FEMA) funds and food distributor. The food bank receives donations for the community year-round and holds special food drives at specific times within the year when the food bank may be experiencing the need for more food. Grants and fundraising activities also contribute to the ability of FOOD Share to purchase healthy and nutritious food to provide for the hungry. During the Holiday’s special targeted donations are received to assist families provide for their traditional family holiday meal. FOOD Share also administers a military food and fund account for our local military families and base(s). |
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WHY IS FOOD Share NEEDED?
The need in Ventura County continues to grow. For instance with the rising |
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costs of housing, residents are forced to choose between paying the rent and providing food for their family; FOOD Share enables families to do both. Hunger among low-income adults grew by an average of 15%. Sixty eight percent of the increase consists of persons aged 60 years and older. Children are the most vulnerable to hunger; 33% of emergency food recipients are children under 18. FOOD Share helps to feed and nourish these residents of Ventura County.