SERVICES & PROGRAMS

How to Become an Agency

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member agency of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York! We distribute nearly 20 million pounds of food annually to over 1,000 member agencies. We work with food pantries, soup kitchens, or emergency shelters, and programs for the disabled, children, and the elderly.

If you have questions about whether your agency qualifies for membership, or if you would like to request an application, please contact:

Betsy Dickson
Agency & Program Services Coordinator
518-786-3691 x233

Criteria for Membership

Agency (Parent Organization) must be a private, non-profit organization, which is tax exempt under IRS code 501(C)(3). Government organizations are not eligible for Regional Food Bank membership.

• Program must use food to serve the needy, ill, or infants
• Program’s use of food must relate to the reason for tax exemption
• Program must not sell food or charge clients for meals, nor shall any voluntary contributions be solicited in connection with the receipt of Food Bank product. Exception: Donations may be solicited in such cases where all of the following apply:
  • The existence of the program is dependent on federal or state funding
  • The funding source (above) mandates that an opportunity to make a contribution be provided
  • Donations (as above) are completely voluntary and anonymous

   

• Program must comply with health and sanitation standards in accordance with the NYS Department of Health
• Agency (Parent Organization) must not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious beliefs, age, handicaps, gender or sexual orientation
• Programs must agree to submit annual service reports to document numbers served, if requested. Emergency feeding programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters must keep accurate records of the number of people/meals they serve
• Programs must be operational for at least six months prior to being approved for membership
• Programs must not use Food Bank products for sectarian purposes, i.e. program cannot engage in the promotion of a particular religion or political party as part of its feeding program or require clients to attend religious or political services or instruction to receive food