Examine individual changes

'[[File:Passing out groceries.jpg|thumb|Volunteers pass out food items from a [[Feeding America]] food bank]] A '''food bank''' or '''foodbank''' is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes food to those who have difficulty purchasing enough to avoid [[hunger]]. In the United States and Australia, food banks usually operate on the "warehouse" model. They act as food storage and distribution depots for smaller front line agencies; and usually do not themselves give out food directly to the hungry. After the food is collected, sorted, and reviewed for quality, these food banks distribute it to non-profit community or government agencies, including ''food pantries'',<ref>In the US (and to a lesser extent in Canada) a ''food pantry'' is usually a small building or perhaps a suite of rooms in a larger building, which hands out packages of food direct to people in need. The term is rarely used outside of the United States, as elsewhere food banks themselves will directly supply the needy as well as possibly providing a warehouse function for other aid agencies. If the establishment offers hot food, then they are often called a ''food kitchen''.</ref> ''food closets'',<ref>Found mainly just in the US, a ''food closet'' is functionally similar to a food pantry, although it will never be a dedicated building, instead it will just be a small room in a larger structure such as church or community hall.</ref> [[soup kitchen]]s, [[homeless shelter]]s, [[orphanage]]s, and [[school]]s. Outside of the US and Australia, the "front line" model is common. Such food banks give out most or all of their food directly to the end users. For both models, the largest sources of food include for-profit growers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers who in the normal course of business have excess food that they cannot sell. Some foodbanks receive a substantial proportion of their food from individual donors, including their volunteer workers. There is considerable overlap with [[food salvage]], [[food rescue]] and [[gleaning]], although not with [[freeganism]] or [[dumpster-diving]]. The world's first food bank was established in the US in 1967, and since then many thousands have been set up all over the world. In Europe, which until recently had little need for food banks due to extensive welfare systems, their numbers grew rapidly after the [[2007–2008 world food price crisis|lasting global inflation in the price of food]] which began in late 2006, and especially after the [[2007–2012 global financial crisis]] began to further worsen economic conditions for those on low income. The growth of food banks has been broadly welcomed, most especially by those on the right of the political spectrum, but also by many on the left, who see them as evidence of active community that is independent of the state. However, academics and commentators have expressed concern that the rise of foodbanks may erode political support for welfare provision. Researchers have reported that food banks can be inefficient compared with state run services, and that some people feel ashamed at having to turn to them. == Standard model == With thousands of food banks operating on six of the seven continents, there are many different models.<ref name = "globalFBhistory"/> A major distinction between food banks is whether or not they operate on the "front line" model, giving out food directly to the hungry, or whether they operate with the "warehouse" model, supplying food to intermediaries like food pantries, soup kitchens and other front-line organisations.<ref>These front line organisations can be private or public, religious or secular. The type and nature of the recipient agency varies depending upon the policies of the food bank, the nature of their community, and the local laws where they operate.</ref> In the US, Australia and to an extent in Canada, the standard model is for food banks to act as warehouses rather than as suppliers to the end user, though there are exceptions. Some food banks will charge a small "shared maintenance" fee for the food to help defray the cost of storage and distribution. In other countries, food banks usually do hand out food parcels direct to hungry people, providing the service that in the US is offered by ''food pantrys''. Another distinction is between the charity model and the labour union model. At least in Canada and the US, food banks run by charities often place relatively more weight on the salvaging of food that would otherwise go to waste, and on encouraging [[Voluntarism (action)|voluntarism]], whereas those run by unions can place greater emphasis on feeding the hungry by any means available, on providing work for the unemployed, and on education, especially on explaining to users their civil rights.<ref name = "welfareCrisis"> {{cite book |author = Graham Riches |title=Food banks and the welfare crisis |chapter = ''passim'', see esp. Models of Food Banks |year= 1986 |isbn=0888103638 |publisher= Lorimer }}</ref> In the US, cities will often have a single food bank which acts as a centralized warehouse and will services several hundred front line agencies. Like a [[blood bank]], that warehouse serves as a single collection and distribution point for food donations. A food bank operates a lot like a for-profit food distributor, but in this case it distributes food to charities, not to food retailers. For many US food banks, most of their donated food comes from food left over from the normal processes of for-profit companies. It can come from any part of the food chain, e.g. from growers who have produced too much or whose food is not sufficiently visually appealing; from manufacturers who overproduced; or from retailers who over-ordered. Often the product is approaching or past its "sell by" date. In such cases, the food bank liaises with the food industry and with regulators to make sure the food is safe and legal to distribute and eat. Other sources of food include the general public in the form of "food drives" and government programs that buy and distribute excess farm products mostly to help support higher commodity prices. Food banks can also buy food either at market prices or from wholesalers and retailers at discounted prices, often at cost. Sometimes farmers will allow food banks to send [[Gleaning|gleaners]] to salvage leftover crops for free once their primary harvest is complete. A few food banks have even taken over their own farms, though such initiatives have not always been successful.<ref> {{cite book |author = Elizabeth Henderson and Robyn Van En |title= Sharing the Harvest: A Citizen's Guide to Community Supported Agriculture |chapter = Chapt 19 |year= 1986 |isbn= 193339210X |publisher= Chealsea Green Publishing }}</ref> Many food banks don't accept fresh produce, preferring canned or packaged food due to health and safety concerns, though some have tried to change this as part of a growing world wide awareness of the importance of nutrition. As an example, in 2012, ''London Food Bank'' (Canada) started accepting perishable food, reporting that as well as the obvious health benefits, there were noticeable emotional benefits to recipients when they were given fresh food.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lfpress.com/news/columnists/ian_gillespie/2012/07/17/19997971.html |title= How to produce results |publisher= London Free Press |author = Ian Gillespie |date=2012-07-17 |accessdate=2012-07-18 }} </ref> Summer can be a challenging time for food banks, especially in regions where school children are usually given regular free meals during term time. Spikes in demand can coincide with periods where donations fall due to folk being on holiday.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.canada.com/Students+swell+summer+demand+food+banks/6915467/story.html |title= Students swell summer demand for food banks |author= Lexi Bainas |date = 2012-07-11 |work = Canada.com |accessdate=2012-07-12}} </ref> <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2012/07/11/food-banks-struggle-during-summer/ |title= Food banks struggle during summer |author= Tracy Agnew |date = 2012-07-11 |work = Suffolk news herald |accessdate=2012-07-12}} </ref> →==North America== === History === The world's first food bank was the St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance in Arizona, founded by [[John van Hengel]] in 1967.<ref name = "globalFBhistory"/> According to sociology professor Janet Poppendieck, hunger within the US was widely considered to be a solved problem until the mid-1960s.<ref name = "sweet"> {{cite book |author = Janet Poppendieck |title= Sweet Charity?: Emergency Food and the End of Entitlement |chapter = Introduction, Chpt 1 |year= 1999 |isbn= 0140245561 |publisher= Penguine }}</ref> By the mid sixties, several states had ended the free distribution of [[Federal Surplus Relief Corporation|federal food surpluses]], instead providing an early form of food stamps which had the benefit of allowing recipients to choose food of their liking, rather than having to accept whatever happened to be in surplus at the time. However, there was a minimum charge and some people could not afford the stamps, leading to severe hunger.<ref name = "sweet"/> One response from American society to the rediscovery of hunger was to step up the support provided by [[soup kitchen]]s and similar civil society food relief agencies - some of these dated back to the [[Great Depression]] and earlier. In 1965, while volunteering for a community dining room, van Hengel learned that grocery stores often had to throw away food that had damaged packaging or was near expiration. He started collecting that food for the dining room but soon had too much for that one program. He thought of creating a central location from which any agency can receive donations. Described as a classic case of "if you build it they will come", <ref> {{cite book |author = Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant |title=Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits |chapter = Chpt 3 and suck corn |year= 2007 |isbn=0470580348 |publisher= Jossey-Bass }}</ref> the first food bank was created with the help of [[St. Mary's Basilica, Phoenix|St. Mary's Basilica]].<ref> [http://www.firstfoodbank.org/history.html History of St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance]</ref> Food banks spread across the United States, and to Canada. By 1976, the precursor to [[Feeding America]] had been established. As of the early 21st century, their network of 200+ foodbanks provides support for 90,000 projects. Other large networks exist such as Ample Harvest, which lists some 33,000 food pantries that can utilise overproduction of fresh produce.<ref name = "sweet"/><ref>[http://www.ampleharvest.org/ Ample harvest homepage]</ref> It was not however until the 1980s that U.S. food banks began to enjoy rapid growth. A second response to the "rediscovery" of hunger in the mid sixties had been extensive lobbying of politicians to improve welfare. Until the 1980s, this approach had greater impact.<ref name = "sweet"/> In the 1970s, U.S. federal expenditure on hunger relief grew by about 500%, with food stamps distributed free of charge to those in greatest need. According to Poppendieck, welfare was widely considered preferable to grass roots efforts, as the latter could be unreliable, did not give recipients consumer-style choice in the same way as did food stamps, and risked recipients feeling humiliated by having to turn to charity. In the early 1980s, [[Ronald Reagan|president Reagan]]'s administration scaled back welfare provision, leading to a rapid rise in activity from grass roots hunger relief agencies. Poppendieck says that for the first few years after the change, there was vigorous opposition from left, who argued that state welfare was much more suitable for meeting recipients needs. But in the decades that followed, food banks have became an accepted part of America's response to hunger.<ref name = "sweet"/><ref name = "WarwickConf"/> Demand for the services of US food bank increased further in the late 1990s, after the "end of welfare as we know it" with President Clinton's [[Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/may2002/food-m11.shtml |title= Recession and welfare reform increase hunger in US |publisher= World Socialist Web Site |author= Debra Watson |date = 2002-05-11 |accessdate= 2012-09-06 }}</ref> In Canada, foodbanks enjoyed a period of rapid growth after the cutbacks in welfare that took place in the mid-1990s.<ref name = "welfareCrisis"/> As early as the 1980s, food banks had also began to spread from the United States to the rest of the world. The first European Food bank was founded in France during 1984. In the 1990s and early 2000s, food banks were established in South America, Africa and Asia, in several cases with van Hengel acting as a consultant.<ref>[http://www.firstfoodbank.org/history.html FirstFoodbank history page]</ref> In 2007, ''The Global FoodBanking Network'' was formed.<ref name = "globalFBhistory"> {{Cite web |url= http://www.foodbanking.org/site/PageServer?pagename=foodbanking_history |title= History of Food banking |publisher = ''The Global FoodBanking Network'' |accessdate=2012-06-20 }}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/07/AR2005100701911.html |title= John van Hengel Dies at 83; Founded 1st Food Bank in 1967 |publisher= [[Washington Post]] |author= Patricia Sullivan |date = 2005-10-08 |accessdate= 2012-08-30 }}</ref> ===Post 2007 financial crisis=== Following the [[2007–2012 global financial crisis]], and the lasting inflation in the price of food that began in late 2006, there has been a further increase in the number of individuals requesting help from US and Canadian food banks. In 2012, ''Gleaners Indianna Food bank'' reported that there were now 50 million Americans struggling with food insecurity (about 1 in 6 of the population), with the number of individuals seeking help from Food banks having increased by 46% since 2005.<ref>[http://www.gleaners.org/ Gleaners Indianna Food bank] Retrieved 2012-07-18</ref> According to a 2012 [[UCLA School of Public Health#Research centers|UCLA Center for Health Policy Research]] study, there has been a 40% increase in demand for Californian food banks since 2008, with even married couples who both work sometimes requiring the aid of food banks.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.loansafe.org/thousands-more-in-solano-napa-counties-are-turning-to-food-banks |title= Thousands More in Solano, Napa Counties are Turning to Food Banks |author= Alex Ferreras |date = 2012-07-11 |accessdate=2012-07-11}} </ref> Dave Krepcho, director of the ''Second Harvest Food Bank'' in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] has said that even college educated professional couples have begun to turn to food pantries.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/going-hungry-america-distressing-humbling-scary-011618014.html |title= Going hungry in America: ‘Distressing,’ ‘humbling’ and ‘scary’ |publisher= [[Yahoo!]] |author= Tim Skillern |date = 2012-08-23 |accessdate= 2012-08-24 }}</ref> By mid 2012, US food banks expressed concerns on the expected difficulty in feeding the hungry over the coming months. Rapidly rising demand has been coinciding with higher food prices and with a deacrease in donations, partly as the food industry is becoming more efficient and so has less mislabelled and other slightly defective food to give away. Also there has been less surplus federal food on offer.<ref>Several food banks receive federal food surpluses as part of the [[Emergency Food Assistance and Soup Kitchen-Food Bank Program|Emergency Food Assistance Program]]. As the price of food has been high throughout 2012, Federal authoritys have been buying less on the market, and so have less to give away to Food banks.</ref> Additionally, there have been recent decreases in Federal funding, and [[United States Congress|Congress]] have been debating possible further cuts, including potentially billions of dollars from the [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program|Food stamp programme]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/top_stories/167266/city-food-banks-face-federal-funding-shortage |title= City Food Banks Face Federal Funding Shortage |publisher= [[NY1]] |author= Roger Clark |date = 2012-08-21 |accessdate= 2012-08-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-east/food-banks-cope-with-funding-cuts-drops-in-donations-higher-demand-650175/ |title= Food banks cope with funding cuts, drops in donations, higher demand |publisher= [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |author= Debra Duncan |date = 2012-08-23 |accessdate= 2012-08-30 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/57698834?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p |title= Food banks run short as federal government hands out less |publisher= Detroit Free Press |author= Marisol Bello, USA TODAY |date = 2012-09-09 |accessdate= 2012-09-10 }}</ref> In September, [[Feeding America]] launched ''Hunger Action Month'', with events planned all over the nation. Food banks and other agencies involved hope to raise awareness of the fact that about one in six Americans are struggling with hunger, and to get more Americans involved in helping out.<ref>[http://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/anti-hunger-efforts-under-way-in-area/article_6fb288aa-f833-11e1-bd3f-0019bb2963f4.html Anti-hunger efforts under way in area ] Beloit daily news. 6 Sept 2012</ref> <ref>[http://amarillo.com/lifestyle/features/2012-09-07/food-banks-spotlight-hunger-awareness Food banks spotlight hunger awareness] Amarillo globe news. 7 Sept 2012</ref> ==United Kingdom== There has been rapid growth in the provision of foodbanks since [[hunger in the United Kingdom|hunger in the UK]] became a prominent issue after the financial crisis, and austerity that followed it from late 2010. Almost all UK food banks are co-ordinated by [[The Trussell Trust]], a Christian charity based in Salisbury which serves as the UK's only food bank network. In 2004 Trussell only ran two two food banks.<ref name = "Trussell"/><ref name="Hannah">{{cite web |url= http://www.shef.ac.uk/geography/about/2012/0502 |title= On the breadline: Foodbanks |publisher= [[University of Sheffield]] |date = 2012-02-05 |accessdate= 2012-08-23 }}</ref> Before the financial crisis, food banks were "almost unheard of" in the UK.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://uk.news.yahoo.com/one-food-bank-opening-uk-every-four-days-012533480.html |title= One Food Bank Opening In UK Every Four Days |publisher= [[Yahoo!]] |author= Frazer Maude, Sky News |date = 2012-04-21 |accessdate= 2012-08-23 }}</ref><ref>Churches had been providing food to the hungry for decades using a similar model, though on a much smaller scale than has been the case since 2008, and they werent called food banks.</ref> In 2007 / 2008 there were only 22 food banks in the Trussell Trust Foodbank Network; by early 2011, The Trussell Trust supported 100. As of May 2012, they had 201. By August, 252. The rate of increase has been rising rapidly. In 2011, only about one new food bank was being opened per week. In early 2012, about two were being opened each week. By July, The Trussell Trust had reported that the rate of new openings had increased to three per week. In August, the rate of new openings spiked at four per week, with three new food banks being opened in that month for Nottingham alone. By October 2012, the rate of increase had fallen back to about two or three per week. <ref name = "rise"/><ref name = "childrenFirst"/><ref name = "Amy"/><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.itv.com/news/central/2012-08-22/food-banks-quadruple-in-nottingham/ |title= Food banks quadruple in Nottingham |publisher= [[ITV]] |author= |date = 2012-08-22 |accessdate= 2012-08-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/19412001 |title= Demand from emergency food banks is 'still rising' |publisher= [[BBC]] |author= Declan Harvey |date = 2012-08-30 |accessdate= 2012-08-30 }}</ref> <ref name = "modell">{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01nqcbm |title= Britain's hidden hunger |publisher= [[BBC]] |author= [[David Model (journalist)|David Model]] |date = 2012-10-30 |accessdate= 2012-11-04 }}</ref> Close to half of those needing to use foodbanks have had issues with their benefits, though many have low income jobs, but struggle to buy food after making debt repayments and other expenses. Demand for food banks is expected to increase even further when cuts to welfare come into effect in April 2013; several councils have began looking at funding foodbanks to increase their capability, as cuts to their budgets mean they'll be less able to help vulnerable people directly.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/21/councils-invest-food-banks-welfare-cuts |title= Breadline Britain: councils fund food banks to plug holes in welfare state |publisher= [[The Guardian]] |author= Patrick Butler |date = 2012-08-21 |accessdate= 2012-08-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19468697 |title= The growing demand for food banks in breadline Britain |publisher= [[BBC]] |author= [[Paul Mason (journalist)|Paul Mason]] |date = 2012-09-04 |accessdate= 2012-09-08 }}</ref> Most UK foodbanks are hosted by churches in partnership with the wider community. They operate on the "frontline" model, giving out food directly to the hungry. Over 90% of the food given out is donated by the public, including schools, churches, businesses and individuals. ''The Trussell Trust'' had aimed to provide short term support for people whose needs have not yet been addressed by official state welfare provision; those who had been 'falling into the cracks in the system'. The Trussell franchise has procedures which aim to prevent long term dependency on their services, and to ensure that those in need are referred to qualified outside agencies. The charity suggests that the ''credit crunch'' caused an upsurge in the number of people needing emergency food. Since 2010, demand for foodbanks continued to increase, and at a more rapid rate, partly as austerity began to take effect, and partly as those on low incomes began to draw down savings and run out of friends of whom they were willing to ask for help. Unlike ''soup kitchens'',<ref>Soup kitchens will typically feed anyone if they have food available, but they can often only provide a single meal. A food bank on the other hand will typically give a package of food sufficient to last for several days.</ref> most UK food banks are unable to help people who come in off the street without a referral - instead they operate with a referral system. Vouchers are handed out to those in need by various sorts of frontline care professionals, such as [[Social workers]], health visitors, Citizens Advice, Jobcentres and housing officials. The voucher can typically be exchanged at the food bank for a package of food sufficient to last three days. A small number of foodbanks have been set up outside of the Trussell system, in part as they don't like having to turn away people without referrals, although Trussell Trust foodbanks do help clients in need without vouchers to get one as quickly as possible. There is also [[FareShare]], a London based charity which operates some 19 depots on the US-style warehouse model. Rather than giving out food directly to individuals, FareShare distributes food to over 700 smaller agencies, mainly smaller independent operations like soup kitchens and breakfast clubs.<ref name = "Trussell"/><ref name = "rise">{{Cite web |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/society/2012/05/rise-and-rise-food-bank |title=The rise and rise of the food bank |publisher= [[New Statesman]] |author = [[Rowenna Davis]] |date=2012-05-12 |accessdate=2012-06-18 }} </ref><ref name = "childrenFirst">{{cite news |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jun/25/breadline-britain-food-bank-merseyside |title= Food banks: 'People would rather go without and feed their children first' |publisher= [[The Guardian]] |author= Helen Carter |date = 2012-06-25 |accessdate= 2012-06-29 }}</ref><ref name = "Amy">{{cite news |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/18/food-banks-on-hand-outs |title= Food banks: a life on handouts |publisher= [[The Guardian]] |author= Amelia Gentleman |date = 2012-07-18 |accessdate= 2012-08-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/voluntary-sector-network/community-action-blog/2012/jun/20/community-food-banks?newsfeed=true |title= How to set up a food bank in your local community |publisher= [[The Guardian]] |author= Caspar van Vark |date = 2012-06-20 |accessdate= 2012-06-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/datablog/2012/jun/25/food-banks-listed-crowdsource-map?newsfeed=true |title= Food banks across the UK: help us create a directory |publisher= [[The Guardian]] |date = 2012-06-25 |accessdate= 2012-06-29 }}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9572177/Food-bank-We-need-more-food-to-feed-UKs-hungry.html |title= Food bank: We need more food to feed UK's hungry |publisher= [[The Daily Telegraph]] |author= Greg Morgan |date = 2012-09-27 |accessdate= 2012-10-01 }}</ref> People who turn to food banks are typically grateful both for the food and for the warmth and kindness they receive from the volunteers. However sometimes food banks have run out of supplies by the time they arrive. Some find it humiliating to have to ask for food, and that the packages they receive don't always seem nutritious. Some food banks have tried to respond with innovative programmes; ''London street food bank'' for example has begun asking donors to send in supermarket vouchers so that those they serve will be able to chose food that best meets their nutritional needs.<ref name="Hannah"/> <ref name = "Amy"/><ref name = "turn">{{cite news |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17867328 |title= More people turning to food banks |publisher= [[BBC]] |date = 2012-04-28 |accessdate= 2012-08-23 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.londonfoodbank.co.uk London Street Foodbank]</ref> Britain's prime Minister [[David Cameron]] has welcomed the efforts of food banks; [[Caroline Spelman]], his ''Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs'', has described food banks as an "excellent example" of active citizenship. Labour MP [[Kate Green]] has a different view, feeling that the rise of food banks reflects people being let down by the [[Welfare State|State Welfare system]], saying "I feel a real burning anger about them ... People are very distressed at having to ask for food; it's humiliating and distressing." <ref name = "Amy"/> ==Europe== The first European food bank was founded in France during 1984.<ref name = "globalFBhistory"/> Similar to the UK, they have become much more common within continental Europe since the crisis that began in 2007, and especially since austerity began to take effect from late 2010. In Spain, demand for food has been such that some have resorted to extra-legal methods to acquire it; in August 2012 the "Robin Hood" mayor [[Juan Manuel Sánchez Gordillo|Sánchez Gordillo]] led raids where food was forcibly removed from supermarkets, and later given to food banks.<ref name = "FT"> {{cite news |url= http://www.ft.com/s/0/f1b089d2-e885-11e1-8397-00144feab49a.html |title= Robin Hood mayor vows to occupy banks |publisher= [[The Financial Times]] |author= Miles Johnson |date = 2012-08-17 |accessdate=2012-08-20 {{registration required}}}} </ref> The number of food banks has increased rapidly even in Germany, a country that has weathered the crisis relatively well, and has not needed to implement severe austerity. In 2012, professor Sabine Pfeiffer of [[Munich University of Applied Sciences]] said there has been an "explosion" of food bank usage. <ref name = "WarwickConf"/> ===The Most Deprived Persons programme=== While many European food banks are run by civil society with no government assistance, there is a project funded by the EU, the ''Most deprived persons programme'' (MDP), which specialises in supplying food to marginalised people <ref>Such as migrants.</ref> who are not covered by the benefit system and who may be reluctant to approach the more formal food banks. Food is largely given out by Catholic churches. However, the EU is due to end funding for the MDP in 2013. Similar to the US, the EU no longer expects to need to buy much food to help farmers, as with high global food prices, market surpluses are now much less frequent. So there is less food available to hand out to food banks. <ref name = "WarwickConf">{{cite news |url=http://www.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/gpp/foodsecurity/publicevents/householdfoodsecurity/food_security_summary.pdf |title= HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY IN THE GLOBAL NORTH: CHALLENGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES REPORT OF WARWICK CONFERENCE |publisher= [[Warwick University]] |date = 2012-07-06 |accessdate= 2012-08-23 }}</ref> <ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/most-deprived-persons/index_en.htm Free food for the most deprived persons in the EU (published by the European Commission)]</ref> In October 2012, the European Commission proposed a new Fund to replace the ''Most deprived persons programme''.<ref>[http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-12-800_en.htm Poverty: Commission proposes new Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived - frequently asked questions (European Commission press release)]</ref> ==Asia== Several Asian countries have began to use foodbanks; these include South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. <ref name ="focusTaiwan"/> In India the FoodBanking concept is being pioneered by the [[Delhi Food Banking Network#India FoodBanking Network|India FoodBanking Network]] to augment ongoing Government and Non Profit feeding programs, with the establishment of the Delhi FoodBank. IFBN acquires donated food in the form of grains, pulses, oil, spices etc. sourced on the basis of community food habits and makes these available through a network of mostly community owned agencies. These agencies and institutional programs include school feeding projects, shelter homes, Old age homes, substance abuse clinics, and after-school programs which cater to various needs.<ref>[http://www.indiafoodbanking.org India FoodBanking Network]</ref> ''Delhi food bank'' is an organisation that feeds, empowers and transforms lives in the New Delhi / NCR Region. They hold that their shared capabilities can make the basic aspiration of universal access to food a reality. They attempt to pursue this vision through high quality and standards for processes leveraged by technology to get the right aid to the right people at the right time.<ref> [http://www.delhifoodbanking.org Delhi FoodBanking Network]</ref> Singapore Buddhist Lodge offers free vegetarian food to people.<ref>[http://www.sbl.org.sg Singapore Buddist Lodge]</ref> ==Africa== The ''Egyptian Food Bank'' was established in Cairo in 2004, and in less than 10 years later, food banks run on similar principles spread to other Arab countries in [[North Africa]] and the [[Middle East]]. <ref>{{cite news |url= http://gulfnews.com/news/region/egypt/food-banks-follow-cairo-recipe-1.1083254 |title=Food banks follow Cairo recipe |work= gulfnews.com |author= Jumana Al Tamimi, |date = 2012-10-01 |accessdate=2012-10-11 }}</ref> In [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] Africa, there are charity run food banks that operate on a semi-commercial system that differs from both the more common "wareshouse" and "frontline" models. In some rural [[Least developed country|LDCs]] such as Malawi , food is often relatively cheap and plentiful for the first few months after the harvest, but then becomes more and more exspensive. Food banks in these areas can buy large ammounts of food shortly after the harvest, and then as food prices start to rise, they sell it back to local people throughout the year at well below market prices. Such food banks will sometimes also act as centres to provide small holders and subsistence farmers with various forms of support. <ref> [http://www.thp.org/where_we_work/africa/malawi/overview ''The hunger project'', overview for Malawi] </ref> Formed in 2009, ''FoodBank South Africa'' (FoodBank SA) is South Africa's national foodbanking network and a member of the ''Global Foodbanking Network''. FoodBank SA's vision is "A South Africa without hunger and malnutrition".<ref>[http://www.foodbank.org.za FoodBank South Africa] </ref> == Worldwide == Since the 1980s foodbanking has spread around the world. There are over 20 countries with active foodbank groups under the umbrella of the ''Global Foodbanking Network''. Countries in the global network include Australia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and the UK. There are also several countries with foodbanks but which have not yet joined the network, either as they don't yet meet the required criteria or as they have not applied.<ref>[http://www.foodbanking.org/site/PageServer?pagename=work_where The Global Foodbanking Network]</ref><ref name ="focusTaiwan">{{cite news |url= http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201209300017 |title= Taiwan to enjoy support from international food banking network |publisher= [[Focus Taiwan]] |author= Elaine How |date = 2012-09-30 |accessdate= 2012-10-01 }}</ref> An alternative facility offering food to the hungry can be found worldwide wherever there are sizable Sikh communities. Long before foodbanks were invented, [[Langar (Sikhism)]] has been making free vegetarian food available to Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike. ==Reactions== The rise of food banks has been broadly welcomed. Not only do they provide a solution to the problem of hunger that doesn't require resources from the state, but they can be viewed as evidence of increasing community spirit and of active, caring citizenship. In the UK for example, Patrick Butler, society editor for [[The Guardian]], has written that the rise of foodbanks has been most enthusiastically welcomed by the right, but also by many on the left of the political spectrum, who were often "nervously excited" about them.<ref name = "Lambeth ">{{cite news |url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/21/food-banks-lambeth-council |title= Food banks: Lambeth holds its breath, and its nose |publisher= [[The Guardian]] |author= Patrick Butler |date = 2012-08-21 |accessdate= 2012-08-23 }}</ref> However there has been considerable concern expressed by some researchers and politicians. Drawing on the United States's experience after the rapid rise of food banks in the 1980s, American sociology professor Janet Poppendieck warned that the rise of food banks can contribute to a long term erosion of human rights and support for entitlements. Once food banks become well established, it can be politically impossible to return responsibility for meeting the needs of hungry people to the state. Poppendieck says that the logistics of running food banks can be so demanding that they prevent kind hearted people from having time to participate in public policy advocacy; yet she also says if they can be encouraged to lobby politicians for long term changes that would help those on low income, they often have considerable credibility with legislators. As of 2012, senior US food banks workers have expressed a preference to remain politically neutral, which political activists have suggested may relate to their sources of funding. <ref name = "WarwickConf"/><ref name = "Lambeth "/> <ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/giving/food-banks-mission-expands-to-nutrition-and-education.html?_r=0 |title= Food Banks Expand Beyond Hunger |publisher= [[The New York Times]] |author= Phyllis Korrki |date = 2012-11-08 |accessdate= 2012-11-11 }}</ref> Rachel Loopstra from [[University of Toronto]] has said foodbanks are often inefficient, unreliable and unable to supply nutritional food. She said a survey in Toronto found that only 1 in 5 families suffering from food insecurity would turn to food banks, in part as there is a stigma associated with having to do so. Elizabeth Dowler, Professor of Food & Social Policy at [[Warwick University]], said that most British people prefer the state to take responsibility for helping the hungry. Hannah Lambie-Mumford, from [[Sheffield University]], echoed the view that some users of food banks find having to ask for food humiliating, and also that food banks volunteers should be encouraged to advocate for long term solutions to the underlying causes of poverty and hunger.<ref name = "WarwickConf"/><ref name = "Trussell">{{cite web |url= http://www.trusselltrust.org/resources/documents/Our%20work/Lambie-%282011%29-The-Trussell-Trust-Foodbank-Network---Exploring-the-Growth-of-Foodbanks-Across-the-UK.pdf |title= The Trussell Trust Foodbank Network: Exploring the Growth of Foodbanks Across the UK |work = [[Coventry University]] |publisher= [[The Trussell Trust]] |author= Hannah Lambie-Mumford |date = 2011-11-11 |accessdate= 2012-08-23 }}</ref><ref name = "turn"/><ref name = "Lambeth "/> == See also == * [[Ag Against Hunger]] * [[BALMEVG]] * [[Canstruction]] * [[Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act]] * [[Feeding America]] * [[Food Not Bombs]] * [[Food Salvage]] * [[Food Stamp Program]] * [[Gleaners]] * [[Good Shepherd Food Bank]] * [[National Association of Letter Carriers#Annual food drive]] * [[Northwest Harvest]] * [[Hopelink]] == Notes and references == {{reflist}} == External links == * [http://www.foodbanking.org/site/PageServer?pagename=foodbanking_find The Global Food bank network - includes resources to find food banks throughout the world.] <!--Please do not add lists of local food banks and the like. Instead, follow the "Hunger relief" link and ensure the organization is listed; if it is not listed then add it by clicking "suggest URL". ---> * {{dmoz|/Society/Philanthropy/Organizations/Hunger_Relief/|Hunger relief}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Food Bank}} [[Category:Food banks|*]] [[ca:Fundació Banc dels Aliments]] [[de:Tafel (Organisation)]] [[es:Banco de alimentos]] [[fr:Banque alimentaire]] [[hr:Die Tafeln]] [[id:Bank makanan]] [[nl:Voedselbank]] [[ja:フードバンク]] [[pl:Bank żywności]] [[ru:Пищевой банк]] [[ta:உணவு வைப்பகம்]] [[zh:食物銀行]]'