Feeding America is the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States, coordinating a nationwide network of more than 250 food banks and over 60,000 food pantries and meal programs that together support tens of millions of people facing food insecurity each year. Rather than distributing food to individuals directly, Feeding America works at the coordination level, sourcing large-scale donations and supporting its member food banks, which then supply the local pantries and meal programs people actually visit.
This guide is independently written and is not affiliated with USDA, OPM, or the official federal Feds Feed Families campaign.
What Feeding America Actually Does
Feeding America functions primarily as a national coordinating organization rather than a direct-service provider. It works with food manufacturers, retailers, and farmers to source large quantities of donated and rescued food, which it channels to its network of member food banks. Those food banks, in turn, distribute that food to local pantries, soup kitchens, and other community-based programs, which are the organizations most people actually interact with when seeking food assistance.
The Scale of the Network
- What Feeding America Actually Does
- The Scale of the Network
- How Food Moves Through the Network
- Where Funding Goes
- Beyond Direct Food Assistance
- Recent Organizational Leadership Change
- How to Use the Network Directly
- FAQ
- Does Feeding America give food directly to individuals?
- How large is the Feeding America network?
- Where does Feeding America get its food?
- How do I find food assistance through the Feeding America network?
As of 2026, Feeding America's network includes more than 250 food banks, over 20 statewide food bank associations, more than 10 regional co-ops, and over 60,000 food pantries and meal program partner agencies, reaching virtually every community in the United States. The organization reports supporting roughly 48 million people facing hunger each year, including approximately 14 million children.
How Food Moves Through the Network
Feeding America sources food through several channels, including direct donations from national retailers and manufacturers, food rescue programs that recover surplus but still safe food from grocery stores and farms, and coordination with USDA commodity programs like TEFAP. In a recent reporting year, the network rescued more than 4 billion pounds of food and groceries that would otherwise have gone to waste, redistributing it through the food bank system rather than letting it end up in a landfill.
Where Funding Goes
Feeding America reports that the substantial majority of all cash and non-cash donations it receives are directed into direct programs and services, rather than administrative overhead. Beyond directly sourcing food, the organization also invests in its member food banks' infrastructure, funding things like refrigeration equipment, transportation, and technology upgrades that help local food banks operate more efficiently.
Recommended Articles
FOOD BANKS PANTRIES
FOOD BANKS PANTRIES
FOOD BANKS PANTRIES
FOOD BANKS PANTRIES
Beyond Direct Food Assistance
Feeding America also works on policy advocacy aimed at improving food security more broadly, supporting legislation related to nutrition assistance programs and working to address underlying drivers of hunger, including housing costs and overall cost of living, rather than focusing solely on food distribution as an isolated issue.
Recent Organizational Leadership Change
In February 2026, Feeding America's Board of Directors announced that Denis McDonough, a former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, would become the organization's Chief Executive Officer, effective April 14, 2026. This leadership transition reflects the organization's continued focus on large-scale systems change in addressing hunger nationally.
How to Use the Network Directly
For individuals seeking food assistance, Feeding America's Food Finder tool lets you search by zip code to locate the nearest member food bank and its partner pantries and meal programs, including mobile pantry distributions in areas with limited access to a fixed location. The tool also provides information on other assistance a local food bank may be able to connect you with, including help applying for SNAP or WIC.
Read More Articals
FAQ
Does Feeding America give food directly to individuals?
Generally not directly. Feeding America coordinates and supplies its network of member food banks, which then distribute food through local pantries and meal programs that individuals actually visit.
How large is the Feeding America network?
As of 2026, the network includes more than 250 food banks and over 60,000 partner pantries and meal programs, supporting an estimated 48 million people annually, including about 14 million children.
Where does Feeding America get its food?
Primarily through donations from retailers, manufacturers, and farmers, food rescue programs recovering surplus food that would otherwise be wasted, and coordination with USDA commodity programs like TEFAP.
How do I find food assistance through the Feeding America network?
Use the Food Finder tool on Feeding America's website, searching by zip code, to locate the nearest food bank and its partner pantries, meal programs, and mobile distributions.
Sources: Feeding America, CB Insights organizational data.