Food Bank of the Southern Tier.
Because One Hungry Neighbor
Is ONE Too Many.
MOBILE FOOD PANTRY PROGRAM
What is the
The Mobile Food Pantry is a converted beverage truck used to deliver fresh produce, dairy products, and other food and grocery products directly to distribution sites where people need food. When the truck arrives at a site, volunteers place the food on tables surrounding the truck. The clients are then able to "shop", choosing items that they need.
Why a
Because each day, many of our neighbors in the Southern Tier do not know where their next meal will come from. The area served by the Food Bank of the Southern Tier spans six counties and nearly 4.000 square miles. Despite serving over 160 hunger-relief member agencies, there remain areas with high levels of need. Even in areas where agencies provide assistance, clients may not always have access to food because agencies are only open certain hours or days per week. In outlying areas, many people do not have cars and there is no public transportation. It’s nearly impossible for them to get to a pantry miles away. They are also not able to incorporate enough fruits and vegetables into their diet because of accessibility and cost.
With the Mobile Food Pantry, we can bring healthy food directly to hungry people in need!
With the support of the Weeks Family - Wendell, Kim, Olivia & Porter, the Seneca Beverage Corporation, and NYS Department of Health, two 35-foot trucks are on the road so that more people will have access to fresh produce, nutrition resources, and social service information, while helping the Food Bank maximize food quality and eliminate food waste.
Each truck can transport up to 15,000 pounds of food. A typical mobile pantry visit lasts two hours and provides 200 to 250 families with nutritious food to help them make their ends meet. The Food Bank partners with local sponsor organizations, who provide volunteers and underwrite the cost of food distributed, to bring the Mobile Food Pantry to a pre-designated site. By sponsoring a mobile pantry distribution, an organization, church or business can directly help their neighbors in need.
Click here to download a Mobile Food Pantry Program fact sheet.
In 2012, the Mobile Food Pantry trucks distributed 2,817,228 pounds of food, including 687,245 pounds of produce, at 575 distributions.
For more information contact:
Vickie Steck, Agency Services & Programs Assistant
at 607.796.6061 x4016 or email
Upcoming Mobile Food Pantry Distributions
Free food is available to those who need it. Food distributions will take place rain or shine.
Please bring your own bags and boxes to carry your items.