The Food Bank distributes food to approximately 325 nonprofit organizations in Nebraska and western Iowa such as pantries, emergency shelters, meal providers and rehabilitation centers. These organizations then distribute food to people in need. Individuals seeking assistance can find help by visiting the Food Bank’s web site at www.FoodBankHeartland.org and by clicking on the “NEED HELP” button at the top of the page home page.

In 2011, 63 percent of the food received by the Food Bank came from corporate donors such as manufacturers, grocers and retail stores. 24 percent of the Food Bank’s product came from USDA commodities, four percent was received through food drives and nine percent of the food in the Food Bank’s warehouse was purchased.

Items in the highest demand include those the Food Bank often buys. The list includes macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, rice, pancake mix, canned chicken, boxed potatoes, canned fruit and canned green beans. For example, the Food Bank will distribute 7,500 boxes of macaroni and cheese on a monthly basis.

The Food Bank has an operating budget of $3.6 million and employs 34 people. On average, about 40 percent of the Food Bank’s revenue comes from individual donors. Roughly 30 percent of the Food Bank’s funding is provided by corporate donors and 20 percent comes via foundations. The remaining 10 percent consists of gifts from civic groups, churches and schools.

No. The IRS prohibits the Food Bank from selling food. The IRS does allow food banks to request partner organizations to contribute a shared maintenance fee to share in the cost of soliciting, collecting, storing and distributing food. For example, a partner organization can get a box of cereal from the Food Bank for approximately 12 cents. If that same box of cereal is delivered by the Food Bank, the total cost for the cereal and delivery would be 13 cents. The shared maintenance fee differs per item ranging from 0-16 cents per pound. There is no shared maintenance on produce, bakery, government commodities and soda. About 50 percent of the food distributed by the Food Bank has no shared maintenance fee. Partner organizations are not allowed to sell food they receive from the Food Bank. If a partner organization cannot pay the recommended shared maintenance fee, the Food Bank will work with that organization to address the costs in another way.