What is the difference between a Food Bank and Food Pantry?
A food pantry is an agency that acquires food from food banks, individual food drives, and other food sources for distribution to individuals; whereas, a food bank:

• Acquires, handles, and distributes food to pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other 501(c)(3) hunger reductions sites.  Nationally, food pantries receive about 74% of all their food from food banks.

• Ensures that agency partners meet proper food handling practices.

• Establishes, sponsors, and oversees community service programs like Kids Cafes and Community Kitchens.

• Advocates on behalf of the hungry in local communities and the State of Illinois.

Food banks must have resources:

• Trucks that can pick up and distribute donated food whenever, wherever.

• Storage enough space available to store and handle donations that may vary greatly in size.

• Freezer capacity to accept frozen products and store them at -10 degrees.

• Cooler space to handle truckload volumes of fruits and vegetables.

• Volunteers to help handle, sort and inspect donated food.

What is America's Second Harvest?
Northern Illinois Food Bank is among over 200 member food bank members of America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network. America's Second Harvest:

• Solicits food donations from national donors,

• Advocates nationally on behalf of Hungry people,

• Sets operating standards and best practices for food banks,

• ensures monitoring of food pantries and hunger reduction programs, and

• provides leadership in reducing hunger in America.

What types of companies donate food to NIFB?
As a member of America's Second Harvest, Northern Illinois Food Bank has access to national food donations. Northern Illinois Food Bank is constantly working with local donors as well to build strong relationships in the fight against hunger. Some of Northern Illinois Food Bank's current donors include: Bunzl, Central Grocers, ConAgra, Clorox, Del Monte, Dominicks, Fresh Express, General Mills, Jewel-Osco, Kellogg, Kraft, Nestle, The Pampered Chef, Panera Bread, Sara Lee, George Weston Bakeries and others.
Learn more about Northern Illinois Food Bank's partners.

Where do I go to get food assistance?
Northern Illinois Food Bank serves food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other food assistance agencies in 13 northern Illinois counties, including Boone, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will, and Winnebago.