Becoming a Good Shepherd Food-Bank Member Agency
It is important that every Maine citizen have a place to turn to get food in times of crisis and need. However, there are still many communities without an agency close by! If you are connected with an organization involved in extending hunger relief to one of these underserved communities, we encourage you to contact our Agency Relations Coordinator to discuss the possibility of becoming a member agency.
In order to qualify for Food-Bank membership, the applicant agency must meet the following criteria:
- Been in operation for three or more months and operating on regularly scheduled hours (at least 2 days per month, 2 different times to accommodate the working poor).
- Have written documentation of 501-C-3 status. Agency must be a non-profit incorporated for the purpose of serving the ill, needy, or children.
- May not be a private foundation.
- May not charge for Food-Bank items given to clients by the agency and cannot require donations or trade services for food.
- Have rules for acceptance and participation in the program, which are the same for everyone regardless of race, religion, color, age, sex, handicap, national origin, or political affiliation.
- Be able to demonstrate a base of support, which includes funding from at least two separate sources.
- May not serve out of a home residence.
- Serves a needy population and reliably screens clients. Keeps information on each client and updates it each time food is distributed.
- Have a system for securing product received.(product stored off the floor, stored safely, i.e.: off radiators and furnaces, no chemicals stored with food or sanitary products, thermometers in freezers and refrigerators.)
- Permit Good Shepherd Food-Bank representatives to visit the agency for monitoring visits scheduled or unscheduled.
- Treats client applications and written records as confidential material, keeping all intake cards and sign-in sheets on-site.
- Serve a defined area. Have guidelines for service to clients, posted in a readily accessible area to clients, staff and volunteers.
- A pantry program must be open to the public; church members and pantry workers shall not be served first or given priority items.
- Pantry programs must serve 35 families or more a month.
- If an agency is within 5 miles of another pantry, it is suggested that they collaborate to better serve the community with a team effort - the applying agency may or may not be approved if serving the same zip codes as other pantries.
- Pantries may not require any client to attend a religious or political meeting or to make a statement of faith, non-faith or pledge membership, or to attend any religious or political meeting before, during or after being served.
There is a 3-4 week period to review new applicants, process a needs analysis for the agency's local community, and to conduct a site visit of the applicants facility.
