Food banks are organizations that provide assistance to people in need by providing groceries and other food items on a sliding scale. The government provides funds for the operation of these programs through the US Department of Agriculture or USDA. A food bank is usually a non-for profit, charitable organization that provides food to people who have trouble buying enough food to avoid serious hunger.
One advantage of food banks and food pantries is that they serve an important social function. Through these institutions, people can get access to adequate food for their families. The distribution of food banks and food pantries is done out of a concern for the most unfortunate members of society. They aim to help improve the conditions of the less fortunate and give them an opportunity for a better life. However, there are some people who criticize food banks and food pantries as being unnecessary and ineffective.
Critics argue that food banks do not serve any purpose except providing food to the needy families. They say that they simply fill up empty houses and sell the food to the first customer they encounter. These critics are generally the richest people living in the communities. To these people, giving food to the needy families through food banks is an unimportant issue. To the rest of us, such an act is instrumental in giving food to people who are actually in need. Check out top food banks!
If we look at the functioning of food banks and food pantries, it is evident that they make sure that the food they distribute to the needy families are of good quality and fit their needs perfectly. For example, in a food bank, wheat is bought when it is in season and delivered to the warehouse by the end of the month. When the farmer is done with his crop, he transports it to the food bank warehouse. Only upon receipt of the wheat, does the food bank to send it to the households.
Another important point of criticism against food banks is that the food they distribute is not available to every family in the community. Sometimes, a food bank has purchased food that has reached its end of season and is simply being discarded by the farmers. This is why the food bank warehouse will not have sufficient stock of food for several months or for a year.
However, there are also occasions when food banks stock excess food which they sell to the retailers. This is done in the state governments and through the mutual agreement of both the parties. So food banks cannot be blamed for not meeting the requirements of the needy families at times. Read more now!
