Food Programs

FoodLink obtains food from a variety of sources.  Food is donated from food drives, local farms and packing houses, food processors and manufacturers, gleaning groups, groceries, dairies and other available sources.  FoodLink also purchases about $80,000 worth of food each year to add more nutritional value to the foods supplied. The donations are stored inside our 27,000 square feet of warehouse space.  The food is then divided into usable quantities and distributed to our network of agencies.

 

Food Bank Program   
This is FoodLink's main food distribution program.  FoodLink was founded in 1978 under the rule of "waste meets want."  Millions of pounds of food grown and produced in our local area never get to market.  FoodLink collects those items that meet health and safety requirements and delivers them to nonprofit hunger relief agencies.  These agencies include emergency pantries, homeless and battered women shelters and soup kitchens.  They then distribute our food to needy families and children in Tulare County.

 

Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP)  
EFAP is a government program under USDA.  FoodLink receives between one-half and two million pounds of food from EFAP every year.  The EFAP food commodities are provided by the USDA through surplus foods, price subsidies and other USDA food purchases.  These food items vary, but typically include flour, dry milk, fruits and vegetables, peanut butter and other foods.  These EFAP commodities are distributed at 26 mass distributions held at emergency pantries, soup kitchens and rescue missions in each major town throughout the county.  For a list of USDA commodities distribution sites in Tulare County.

 

Nutrition on the Go!
FoodLink is proud of the success of our newest program, Nutrition on the Go!  This program is currently active in 19 sites throughout Tulare County and Kings County.  Staffed mainly by trained local volunteers, many of whom are program participants.  Nutrition on the Go! Brings fresh fruits and vegetables, cooking tips and recipes, nutrition information, diabetes screenings and health education to low income families, often in communities with little or no access to fresh produce in their local markets due to unavailability or expense.  Through Nutrition on the Go!, FoodLink partners with a variety of providers and agencies to promote healthier choices in a festive and fun, community-building atmosphere. 

 

After School Snack Program
The After School Snack Program began in 1992 with a request from Washington School for a "snack" to feed kids who stay after school for special help and tutoring.  It quickly grew to a closet program where teachers and aides had a little stash of food for kids who come to school dizzy or sleepy from lack of food. 

 

Summer Food Service Program
This USDA-sponsored program provides a nutritious lunch to children who do not receive school lunch during the summer.  FoodLink began sponsoring this program in 1991 and now serves 17 different sites throughout Tulare County. Most of these sites have activities for the children throughout the day. FoodLink delivers fresh lunches to these sites daily, serving 850 children. Included with these lunches are fun nutrition education activities for the children and their parents.

 

Back Pack Program

This program is designed to provide hungry children with nutritious and easily prepared food at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and holiday vacations. FoodLink works closely with Title 1 (very low income) schools in our community, providing them with a back pack filled with child-friendly foods including fresh fruits at the end of every week while school is in session. This program provides 600 students with weekly backpacks. FoodLinks goal through this program is to help children succeed academically as well as socially.