Frequently Asked Questions

partner agencies stretch their food budget by accessing a wide range of staples from the Food Bank.

Q: How does my agency become a Food Bank partner?
Q: What geographic area does the Food Bank serve?
Q: Are there any requirements regarding the number of persons served by our agency?
Q: How does my agency start receiving food?
Q: Does the Food Bank charge for the food? Is there a partnership fee?
Q: How does an agency make this reimbursement?
Q: How often can we shop?
Q: Does the Food Bank deliver?
Q: Where does the Food Bank food come from?
Q: What kind of food is available?
Q: What are the benefits of becoming a Food Bank partner?

Q: How does my agency become a Food Bank partner?

A: Your agency must meet the requirements set by the Food Bank to become a partner. A pre-screening is made right here on our website, or you may call 404-892-FEED, ext. 2008. Click on the link below and you will be asked a series of eight questions designed to see if you meet the preliminary requirements for an ACFB partner agency. If you pass the initial qualification, a copy of the partner application will be downloaded to your browser. Click here to begin the pre-screening and download a partnership application. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Download the free software here.) A more formal evaluation will follow our receipt of the completed application. An onsite visit is required prior to approval. A partnership contract is signed if approved.

Q: What geographic area does the Food Bank serve?

A: If your agency is in one of these 29 counties you are eligible to participate in the Food Bank:

Q: Are there any requirements regarding the number of persons served by our agency?

A: Food Bank partner agencies can be of any size, serving a few people or thousands.

Q: How does my agency start receiving food?

A: All approved partner agencies are invited to select "shoppers" who will have access to our inventory. All shoppers must complete an orientation class prior to their first time ordering inventory from the Food Bank.

Q: Does the Food Bank charge for the food? Is there a partnership fee?

A: There is no partnership fee and no direct fee for any product donated to the Food Bank. We do expect our partner agencies to help with a portion of our storage and transportation costs. This comes to us in the form of a "Share Contribution," which is a handling fee assessed by pounds of food received. This Share Contribution is never more than 16 cents per pound. For every dollar a partner agency contributes to the Food Bank, they receive over $10 retail worth of products.

Q: How does an agency make this reimbursement?

A: The Food Bank accepts only a partner agency's organizational check. We cannot accept personal checks, credit cards or cash. Some partners reimburse the Share Contribution monthly, others do so as they shop.

Q: How often and when can we shop?

A: Currently, there is no limit to the frequency of shopping trips to the Food Bank facilities. However, there are limits to quantities of some items available during any one visit. Shopping hours are weekdays 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. except Tuesdays.

Q: Does the Food Bank deliver?

A: Only on a limited basis. Partner agencies shop at the Food Bank facilities and provide their own transportation. Every other month, the Food Bank transports food to Cartersville, where partner agencies in Bartow, Floyd, Cherokee, Pickens and other northwest counties can pick up their orders. Agencies receiving prepared and perishable foods from our Atlanta's Table project do have those foods delivered.

Q: Where does the Food Bank food come from?

A: Food and products are donated by various manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, caterers, food drives and individuals; food is also supplied by USDA programs and purchased.

Q: What kind of food is available?

A: The Food Bank receives almost any kind of product that may be found in a grocery store, including perishable and non-perishable items. A weekly inventory list is available by fax or online via our inventory ordering system eHarvest.

Q: What are the benefits of becoming a Food Bank partner?

A: Let us do food gathering for you. One of our principal missions is to empower our community. Releasing your time, energy and resources to provide services to low-income people rather than beating the bushes looking for food donations is one of the most profound gifts we can give to our partner agencies. Leveraging your funds and gifts with our resources means greater efficiency for all of our organizations. Additionally, our experience with a broad array of anti-hunger projects allows us to provide technical assistance to any partner agency regarding everything from program models to safe food handling and storage to public policy advocacy.