June Non-Profit Spotlight: Mid-Ohio Food Bank

For the month of June, we are spotlighting a non-profit organization called the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. They partner with United Way to do Operation Feed. For 27 years Operation Feed has provided food for needy families in Central Ohio. Every year, local businesses, government agencies, school children, and civic groups team up to donate critically needed food items and dollars during this community-wide food drive.

As we’ve been preparing for our food drive, Joan Casto-Lloyd has been an invaluable resource to us. Joan is the Operation Feed Campaign Director for the Mid-Ohio FoodBank. I thought it would be a good idea for Joan to tell us more about their organization, so I conducted an interview. Thank you Joan!

What is the Mission of the Food Bank?
Mid-Ohio FoodBank is dedicated to feeding hungry people by collecting and distributing food and grocery products, advocating for hunger-relief programs, and collaborating with others who address basic human needs.

Where is the Food Bank located?
The FoodBank is located at 1625 W. Mound St., Columbus, Ohio 43223. Our phone number is 614-274-7770, our website is www.midohiofoodbank.org

How large is the food bank?
Mid-Ohio Foodbank is the largest food bank in Ohio (there are 12 food banks in Ohio) and the 12th largest food bank in the nation.

Since 1980, Mid-Ohio FoodBank has provided more than 417 million pounds of food and other grocery products for hungry people in our community. Mid-Ohio FoodBank keeps the food shelves stocked for a network of more than 530 emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, senior dining centers, day care and after-school enrichment programs throughout a 20-county service area.

What types of food does the Food Bank offer?
The Foodbank collects and distributes all types of food products including fresh produce, frozen foods, meats, non-perishable foods and personal care items.

How much food did the Food Bank distribute last year?
The Foodbank distributed 29.1 million pounds of food and other grocery products in 2007.

Where does the Food Bank get the food?
The food industry supplies more than half of our food and personal care donations. Our food industry partners are on both the national and local level. In addition, we have partnerships with both the federal and state government and receive food in the form of commodities and fresh produce.

Food drives, like Operation Feed, are critical resources for our network of feeding programs. These food drives help ensure that those experiencing hunger in central Ohio will find an adequate supply of food at Mid-Ohio FoodBank's network of pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters.

How many people does the Food Bank help every year?
We serve over 193,000 people each year.

Why are so many people hungry?
More and more people are living on the margins of poverty, often sacrificing food to pay for rent, medicine, or put fuel in their cars. For those barely making ends meet, the rising cost of fuel and food create an even greater pinch. With food prices expected to rise 3-4% again this year, even more families will struggle.

Requests at pantries this year are up 14% over the same time last year. This unprecedented need is not going to subside until Ohio's economy improves dramatically.

Can the hungry get food directly from the Food Bank?
We do not serve the public from our warehouse. We collect, warehouse, transport and distribute donations of wholesome surplus food and other groceries to hunger programs.

Our network of over 530 agencies serve those facing hard times. The Foodbank's charity network includes food pantries, soup kitchens, after-school programs that provide evening meals for children, homeless and battered women's shelters and similar places of refuge.

Is the Food Bank a government agency or a private charity?
The Mid-Ohio FoodBank is not a government agency, however, we do work with the government to distribute USDA food. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

In 2008, Charity Navigator, America's premier independent charity evaluator, rated Mid-Ohio FoodBank at 4 stars, their highest level. We earned this level for our proven efficiency and financial health.

We are a member of America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest non-governmental, domestic hunger relief organization. As a member, we follow the guidelines put forth by the network and are monitored periodically to ensure that we uphold the highest standards of charitable food distribution.

The Foodbank is also a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity. Our organization has met their 20 Standards for Charity Accountability and has received the BBB Wise Giving Alliance Charity Seal.

The FoodBank was also certified by the Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Their Standard's for Excellence program is a stringent voluntary certification program for Ohio's nonprofit sector.

Where does the Food Bank receive its funding?
Over half of our income (57%) comes directly from individual donors. Individual donors also steer the Operation Feed campaign, the annual community-wide food and funds drive.

Other income sources include government reimbursement, handling fees, and corporations/organizations/foundations.

How much of my donation goes directly to feeding the hungry?
The Foodbank directs 96 percent of its financial and product donations to providing food for hungry people and strengthening distribution programs within our 20-county service area.

Is the Food Bank run by paid staff or people volunteering their time?
The Foodbank is run by paid staff, however, our work is accomplished with the assistance and leadership of dedicated volunteers. During last year, 5,105 volunteers donated 21,073 hours of their precious time to sort and repack donated products, prepare food boxes for seniors, coordinate mailings, provide office support, and work on fundraising events.

If someone is interested in volunteering, who do they need to talk to?
If someone is interested in volunteering, donating, or being involved through a food drive or other event, they should contact the Foodbank at 614-274-7770 or by e-mailing mofb@secondharvest.org.

Thank you Joan for taking a moment to tell us about the Mid-Ohio FoodBank! For those of you looking to participate in the Twoshirts.org food drive during the month June, please check out the Let’s Bag Hunger page!

Thank you!