Frequently Asked Questions

Providing food to those at risk of hunger through 700 partner agencies operating throughout our service area is the foundation of what we do.

Food is sourced from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, distributors, grocers, growers, processors, the food industry and Feeding America, as well as from food drives.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank opened its doors in 1982. During our first year of operation, we distributed just over 711,000 pounds of inventory to a network of 140 agency partners. Today, we average more than 1.9 million pounds of food each month, approximately 22 million pounds year, through more than 700 partner agencies.  More than 250,000 unduplicated individuals are served each year.  Nearly 40,000 individuals are served throughout our network each week.*


*Hunger in America 2010

No. Food is collected, stored and repackaged at the warehouse and then distributed to partner agencies that are also 501 (c) (3) organizations.  These nonprofit community programs then either prepare the food and serve it or distribute food to those in need. Non-profit partners may include emergency programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. Supplemental food program partners may include youth programs, senior centers, or transitional living programs all of whom serve low income individuals who are at risk of hunger. If you or someone you know needs emergency food assistance, contact the Food Bank at 717.564.1700 for a pantry referral or access our list of partners on our website. Emergency food programs are listed with phone numbers. Contact the program for more information on days and hours of distribution. Consumers are referred to programs located within the zip code where they live.

A food bank solicits, collects, stores, repackages and distributes large quantities of food to direct food service programs. The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is a food bank and a member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks. A food pantry provides food directly to those who may not have enough food to eat. Food pantries are an important source of emergency food for the working poor and they often provide other critical resources.

Membership materials are available on our website or by contacting the Agency Relations Department at 717.564.1700. Once completed applications are received, a site visit to the agency will be conducted in order to determine if the agency is eligible for membership. Lastly, authorized individuals who will be working with the Food Bank must attend a member agency orientation session. Once all three of these steps are completed, the agency may access inventory from the Food Bank for their distribution program.

Yes, members are assessed a nominal membership fee of $50 per for each fiscal year of membership, July 1 through June 30th.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank does not charge for donated food nor do our partner agencies charge consumers for food. However, there is a nominal shared maintenance charge that helps off-set the cost of handling and delivery. There is no shared maintenance charge for donated fresh produce. The Food Bank also offers a wholesale food purchase program which offers wholesale inventory at a greatly reduced cost.

Food Safety is a critical component of our business. All agency partners must have a minimum of one person, (key staff or volunteer working with the food program) who has participated in a food safety curriculum appropriate to the distribution program type, i.e. Meal Service or Food Pantry program. The Food Bank offers a food pantry food safety curriculum on our website, and coordinates classroom sessions for meal and pantry programs with certified food safety educators. The Food Bank supports nutrition education in partnership with the Penn State Cooperative Extension services located throughout our service territory.

The Central PA Food Bank Harrisburg Food Bank location serves Adams County,  Bedford County,  Blair County,  Centre County,  Clearfield County,  Cumberland County,  Dauphin County,  Franklin County,  Fulton County,  Huntingdon County,  Juniata County,  Lancaster County,  Lebanon County,  Mifflin County,  Northumberland County,  Perry County,  Snyder County and York County. 

The Central PA Food Bank Williamsport Food Bank location serves Bradford County, Clinton County, Columbia County, Lycoming County, Montour County, Northumberland County, Potter County, Sullivan County, Tioga County and Union County.