Disaster Donations Coordination

The food bank acts as a coordinating organization in the community to provide surplus and purchased food to people in Los Angeles County. The food bank does not provide direct services to individuals. There are no geographic restrictions.

In cooperation with the food industry, other businesses, foundations and participating social service agencies, the food bank acquires donations of usable food and distributes the food donations to over 600 partner agencies; the food bank also accepts monetary donations. The food bank provides disaster services for partner agencies; recruits and trains adult volunteers who are interested in helping with the program.

The food bank solicits, collects, inspects, sorts, stores, and distributes surplus food donations from all sectors of the food industry, including supermarket, warehouses and food manufacturers, processors, wholesalers, and brokers. The food bank also solicits financial contributions used to buy warehouse equipment and supplies to support our food programs and partner agencies.. Partner agencies must have public, non-profit or religious-exempt status; provide a food program; document their liability insurance; and agree to regular on-site inspections. The food bank provides technical assistance for partner agenices to help them comply with the standards set; non-compliance may result in suspension or termination of the agency account. The food bank also accepts and investigates complaints from the public about partner agencies.

Disaster donations coordination for partner agencies includes solicitation and distribution of in-kind and monetary donations during disasters for community organizations that provide emergency services.