The Community Food Program provides food and nonfood items to more than 100 Merced and Mariposa nonprofit organizations that operate hunger-relief programs. These include: food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, low-income daycare centers, senior centers, substance abuse rehabilitation programs, disability programs and faith-based programs.
How the program works
Nonprofits visit MCFB’s 30,000 square foot warehouse in Merced and collect food. They return to their facilities where the food is either cooked and distributed on-site (e.g. shelter/soup kitchen) or bagged and distributed to individuals and families to take home (e.g. food pantry).
Community Food Program partnership criteria
To become a partner of MCFB’s Community Food Program, a nonprofit must meet the following criteria:
-
A partner must be incorporated for the purpose of serving the ill, needy and/or infants. Use of the food must be related to the partner’s charitable purpose. More than 50% of the nonprofit’s clients must be classified as low-income. The nonprofit’s food program must not be limited to only seasonal/ holiday food distributions.
-
A partner must be a nonprofit organization, qualifying under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code or a qualified church.
-
The partner must serve all individuals regardless of race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or veteran’s status.
-
The partner must not require any individual to attend a religious or political meeting, nor may the individual be required to make a statement of faith or pledge membership to any religious or political organization as a requirement for receiving food.
-
The partner must not charge for food, be reimbursed, compensated or require services in exchange for food, nor may it use the Food Bank’s products for fundraising activities.
-
The partner must not be an entity of a municipality. For example, schools, hospitals, prisons and jails do not qualify.
-
The nonprofit’s food program must have been in operation for at least three months before applying to become a member of the Community Food Program. The nonprofit must also have adequate capacity to safely store and distribute the quantities and types of food that will be received.
-
If applicable, the partner must meet state and local health licensing requirements and agree to random unannounced site visits by MCFB compliance staff.
If you would like to apply to become a member or have questions about the Community Food Program, please contact Ashley Ferreira, Operations Manager, at (209) 726-3663 or email ashleyf@mmcfb.org.
