Wh Frp

Store Donation Program

The Store Donation Program provides the food bank and its agencies with various fresh products, including produce, dairy, meat, and bread, by connecting the food bank with local retail grocery stores. Through the program, stores donate their wholesome but unsaleable food to the food bank. In some areas, Feeding the Gulf Coast trains and certifies select agencies to pick up food directly from these stores and distribute the donations to their clients through their feeding programs. Not only does this get food into the hands of those in need faster, but it also enables the food bank to use resources like trucks, employees, and monetary donations in other places. Feeding the Gulf Coast and select agencies pick up from approximately 250 stores each week, collecting nearly 1.25 million pounds of food every month.

If you would like to get involved with this program in Alabama or Mississippi, contact Kari Ann Kinder at (251) 653-1617 ext. 113.
For Florida, contact Duane Ates at (850) 626-1332 ext. 206.

Produce Procurement

A core part of our strategic plan is to ensure more of our partners and clients have access to nutritious food. We are working to establish strong relationships with local farmers, producers, and other non-traditional suppliers to procure millions of pounds of fresh produce every year.

Gleaning

Feeding the Gulf Coast partners with local farmers and growers to help pick healthy, nutritious produce for those in need. When farmers are at the end of their season, they will contact the food bank to arrange a field glean. Large groups of volunteers are needed to harvest and pack boxes so that the fruit or vegetables can quickly get to our partners. Agency partners are encouraged to attend the glean and take the produce home that day. We partner with several area farmers and are always looking for new opportunities.

Partner with us

If your farm would like to get involved with our gleaning program or if you have excess produce you would like to donate,
contact Cindy Bloom at (251) 653-1617 ext. 124. All donations are tax-deductible and protected from criminal and civil liability
under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.

If you or your group want to volunteer to help glean or sort produce, contact
Missy Busby at (251) 653-1617 ext. 127.

Top Retail and Farm Donors

ALDI
BIG LOTS
BJS WHOLESALE CLUB
CHANDLER BRAMLETT
CITY PRODUCE
COSTCO
DENNIS SCHWARZ
DOLLAR GENERAL
GREER’S
HAYES FARM
MCKENZIE FARM
MILITARY COMMISSARIES
OLE HOUSE FARM
PENRY FARM
PIGGLY WIGGLY
PUBLIX
SAM’S CLUB
SESSIONS FARM
SIRMON FARM
TARGET
THE FRESH MARKET
WALMART
WHOLE FOODS
WINN DIXIE

Resources