Mission
Working together to build and sustain hunger-free communities throughout the Southern Tier.
Vision
The Food Bank of the Southern Tier is committed to creating a future without hunger where access to healthy food by all is recognized as fundamental to the well-being and success of individuals and the foundation of a strong, vibrant society.
Our Values
INTEGRITY
- We walk the talk with our values and culture and do the right thing when no one is looking.
- We do what we say we will do and adjust expectations when circumstances change.
- We gather facts before drawing conclusions. We trust but verify.
- We lead by example and never ask someone else to do what we are not willing to do.
LEARNING
- We speak up, ask questions, and freely share ideas.
- We take risks, try new ways of working, reflect, and learn.
- We are clear on decisions, act with urgency, and are willing to adjust as circumstances change.
- We are persistent and work to constantly achieve better outcomes.
- We model fallibility by owning our mistakes.
RESPECT
- We lean into difficult conversations and debate ideas but will uphold decisions once they are made.
- We honor the absent and would never speak poorly about someone behind their back.
- We seek to constructively resolve misunderstandings when they occur.
- We transparently share progress, decisions, and important information.
INCLUSION
- We are fully present with others in meetings and actively listen.
- We ensure everyone can participate and be heard.
- We ask questions and seek alternative viewpoints before reaching conclusions.
- Before making a decision, we deliberately engage the people impacted for their perspective and participation.
CARING
- We set clear priorities and stay focused. We set and maintain boundaries to create work/life balance.
- We support and help our teammates.
- We take time to know each other and understand what matters to our teammates.
- We appreciate and recognize each other for our unique contributions to the mission.
ABUNDANCE
- We approach our work with a positive attitude and look for the good in challenging circumstances.
- We focus on solutions when problems arise.
- We recognize and celebrate small and big successes. We show gratitude and thankfulness.
- We assume the best of others.
Our Commitments
Diversity
To us, diversity is the presence and representation of wide ranging and differing views, identities, experiences and abilities. We are committed to diversity in the workplace, and collaborating with from many backgrounds, all focused on the mission.
Equity
In our commitment to equity, we work eliminate barriers, and ensure fair treatment and equal access to opportunities, information and resources. We recognize that we don’t all start from the same place or need the same things to be successful. This is at the core of why we exist as a food bank and central to our mission.
Inclusion
We are committed to creating a sense of belonging where all our team members are valued and respected, and feel safe to speak up and contribute to our shared success. We seek to intentionally involve stakeholders that are affected by our decisions, both internally and externally. We envision an organization where recipients of our services are included in decisions that impact their lives.
Who We Serve
Our service area includes Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties, covering nearly 4,000 square miles. Our partnership with member agencies across our service area is crucial to our mission as they ensure the food we acquire and distribute gets to the people who need it most.
In 2020, the Food Bank distributed more than 17.6 million pounds of food and grocery items through three main channels:
- More than 155 partner agencies, including food pantries, meal programs, shelters, after-school programs, and senior programs
- Food Bank direct-service programs: Mobile Food Pantry, BackPack, and Kids Farmers Market
- A partnership with CHOW in Broome County*
* Working in Partnership to Meet the Need
CHOW – a redistribution organization of the Food Bank – and FBST work in partnership to leverage national, regional, and local resources to end hunger in Broome County. CHOW operates its facility in concert with the Food Bank, receiving food from FBST and relying on food and monetary donations from local residents, organizations and companies to fulfill our collective mission of ending hunger for all.
Food Bank of the Year
The Food Bank of the Southern Tier was named the 2017 Food Bank of the Year by Feeding America. We were selected for being the most outstanding food bank out of more than 200 Feeding America member food banks across the country. This is a huge honor, and we couldn’t be more excited!
Winning Food Bank of the Year would not have been possible without the dedication, support, and hard work of many partners. We are inspired by our clients, agencies, donors, and volunteers every day, and being recognized at the national level only reinforces our belief that our neighbors in the Southern Tier are very special.
Most importantly, being named Food Bank of the Year is a recognition that we’re on the path to fulfilling our mission: working together to build and sustain hunger-free communities throughout the Southern Tier.
We offer a heartfelt thank you to everyone in our community who made this possible. We owe it all to you!