5 reasons why food banks matter

 

While many people think of donating a bag of groceries to their local food bank, much of the food collected by food banks comes from larger sources within the food supply chain — like farms, manufacturers and retailers. 

What happens to this food after it's collected? And where does it make a difference?

Food banks play a key role in making our food system stronger. They help provide a local food source for communities and, especially during tough times, make sure fewer people go hungry. Food banks also help reduce waste by redistributing food to those in need.

We asked food bank experts what people should know about how food banks work and what they might not consider. Here’s what they told us.

 

1. Hunger is everywhere

The benefits of food pantries are vast, but most importantly, they help redistribute food into local communities.

More than 300 million people worldwide face acute levels of hunger, according to the UN World Food Programme. And hunger knows no borders, with serious challenges in both high- and low-income nations. 

In India, more than 190 million people go hungry; in the United States, more than 47 million people, including 14 million children, are food insecure.

“The need for secure access to food is universal and growing," says Albertine von Wolfswinkel, Cargill’s head of corporate responsibility for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "Our partnerships with food banks and key organizations address not only the immediate needs of those facing hunger but also help build stronger, more resilient food systems.”

 

2. There’s enough food — but much of it goes unused

Collecting fresh produce is an essential part of helping individuals and families become food secure.

Hundreds of billions of pounds of food go to waste around the world each year, with upward of 30% of food lost in the food supply chain, at retail and in consumer households.

In the United States alone, that adds up to 133 billion pounds and $161 billion of food waste per year, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Food banks play a crucial role in eliminating food waste, sourcing large amounts of food and making it available to smaller, local food shelves and food pantries. They can then provide free groceries and healthy meals to our neighbors experiencing hunger and food insecurity, according to Second Harvest Heartland, a Minnesota-based food bank and one of Cargill’s longstanding community partners.

“During this time of historically high need in our communities, we are focused on innovative solutions that allow us to get more food where it's needed most,” said Allison O’Toole, CEO of Second Harvest Heartland. “Reducing today's hunger remains a priority, but it's our responsibility to build sustainable partnerships that prevent hunger tomorrow.”

People especially need this during natural disasters and other crises. Understanding what a food bank does and how food banks help the community is essential in recognizing their impact.

 

3. What you give matters 

How do food drives help the community? By bringing in nutritious food for community members in need.

It’s not just about food — it’s about healthy food. That means donating things like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean proteins. 

In the Feeding America network, for instance, 71 percent of the food collected is categorized as healthy. Their goal is to bring in enough fruits and vegetables to serve 1.7 billion meals where produce is the most important ingredient by 2025. 

Cargill helps to serve millions of meals per year through our corporate giving efforts to global and local food bank partners. “Thanks to Cargill’s support of The Global FoodBanking Network, food banks in 54 countries served 1.7 billion meals to families facing hunger last year,” says Lisa Moon, president and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network.

“The tragic reality is that there are still billions of people who cannot afford a healthy diet and millions of tons of nutritious food that unnecessarily goes to waste. Food banks are playing an increasingly pivotal role in alleviating hunger and reducing food waste at the same time.” 

 

4. Food banks do the heavy lifting

Fresh food and packaged food items are highly needed at all food banks.

When you give, your job might be done. Theirs isn’t.

Understanding how a food bank works and the logistics involved is crucial to appreciating their role. Food banks are in the business of getting meals across their networks to people who need them. Take the European Federation of Food Banks, which has more than 350 food banks that gave out more than 839,000 tons of redistributed food in 2023.

That expertise gives food banks a long reach.

“Food banks are integral to the world’s food system,” says Pete Stoddart, Cargill’s North American corporate responsibility director. “Whether by building technology to increase food donations, setting up regional distribution hubs, or coordinating with producers, retailers, the food service industry, or distributors, food banks are the networks to move food to where it is needed most, when it is needed most to the people who most need it.”

 

5. Their goals go beyond food

Students who participated in a nutritional education and well-being program at their school in Nicaragua.

Support for food banks goes well beyond the food itself. 

For example, we have partnered with Feeding America since 1986, providing financial, product, volunteer and leadership support in areas like food safety, product donations, produce capture and farmer engagement. Our work together includes innovative food sourcing, improving food safety, community health and nutrition, product donations and employee volunteerism.

“Food banking is an important part of responding when people are in crisis as we work to build solutions that make the food system work better for everyone,” Pete says.

Learn more about how Cargill supports hundreds of food banks around the world.

 

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