Partner Collaborations With
Houston Food Bank
NOTE
Organizations interested in City of Houston’s “100 Pantries in 100 Days” initiative, please visit their website for more information.
Join a network of hunger relief partners and allow the Houston Food Bank to be an ongoing source of free or low-cost food to stock your pantry or kitchen.
Hunger and Food Insecurity in Southeast Texas
Around 1 million people in southeast Texas are food insecure, meaning they lack consistent access to enough nutritious food to fuel a regularly healthy lifestyle. Hunger comes from prolonged food insecurity resulting in illness, discomfort, and weakness. The Houston Food Bank works with its network of 1,600+ community partners to address hunger and food insecurity and provide individuals with food assistance as well as additional programs and services aimed at helping people achieve long-term stability.
Benefits to a partnership with Houston Food Bank
Access to food/non-food items purchased by HFB
Access to retail product upon availability
Access to Houston Food Bank brand recognition
Access to capacity grants
Access to mentorship programs
Access to educational workshops
Access to free client management system
Access to additional HFB Programs
Are you a 501(c)(3) or faith-based organization ready for a permanent partnership with Houston Food Bank?
The intention of the Partner Services Department is to establish strategic, long-term, consistent, and highly active partnerships with 501(c)(3) public charity and faith-based organizations in order to address the needs of food insecure persons within our service area.
Do you identify as a pantry, mobile-only, or meal site?
What type of food distribution program are you planning to operate or currently operate?
Community Food Distribution Programs* supported by Houston Food Bank:
- Pantries – Brick and Mortar Location
- Mobile-Only Sites – No Storage Capacity; Distribute out of HFB’s “Food Pantry on Wheels”
- Meal Sites (Soup Kitchens, Shelters, etc) – Prepare Meals on Site with No Charge
*With some limited exceptions, partner distributions should be open to the public. Please review our HFB Partnerships Overview document for further details.
Additional partnerships/programs supported by HFB:
- Food For Change (FFC)
- Visit our Food for Change page for additional details or contact the Food for Change department for more information
- FFC Market Application
- Child Programs
- Senior Programs
- Community Assistance Program (CAP)
Do you have an approved location?
TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF AN APPROVED LOCATION:
- The location is not a strip mall shopping center or business areas, or an unpaved parking lot. Apartment complexes are not conducive to large-scale, public distributions and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- The location has adequate entry/exit and space for Houston Food Bank delivery trucks and/or client parking and distribution.
- The parking surface must be paved and conducive to our heavy trucks and equipment.
- For Pantries: The site should be able to support HFB pallet jacks entering and maneuvering around the building.
- For Mobiles: The site must be at least 55 ft. long by 50 ft. wide. The entrance needs to be at least 10 ft. wide, with a minimum of 5 additional ft. on one side that is free of obstructions (fences, fire hydrants, trees, signs, telephone/light poles, parked cars, etc.). There should be no parked cars within 10 ft. of the entrance.
Are you located in the following zip code/neighborhood?
We are currently prioritizing prospective partners in the following zip codes/neighborhoods* based on strategic analysis of where HFB is not currently and adequately meeting the need of food insecure persons in its service area:
*NOTE: We are currently defining general areas. Zip Codes and Neighborhoods will not match up 1:1. These zip codes are subject to change based on our continuous analysis of food insecurity within our service area.
If your organization is located in one of the identified needed areas, we encourage you to attend an upcoming informational session to learn more about HFB partnership. If you are not in one of the identified areas, you are welcome to attend an informational session but you may not be asked to submit a formal application for partnership.
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Do you meet the minimum partnership requirements?
PANTRIES
- IRS determination letter stating 501c3 status and/or completion of 14-pt criteria by religious organizations without their own tax-exempt EIN
- Able to host distributions a minimum of 4 times per month
- Able to provide extended hours a minimum of 1 time per month. Extended hours can be defined as any time after 5pm Mon-Fri or anytime Saturday or Sunday.
- Food Dealer/Food Establishment Permit (non-profit) issued by local county/city health department as required.
- Meet the location requirements above
- Food Handler Certificate (Learn about training option provided)
- Regular Pest Control
- Abide by Food Storage Handling and Safety Practices that are in conformance with local, state, and federal regulations
- Civil Rights Training will be required once approved for partnership
- Client intake using a web-based platform must be completed during all distributions
- Pantry partners must offer extended distribution hours at a minimum of once a month which can be evening and/or Saturday distributions.
MOBILE-ONLY SITES
- IRS determination letter stating 501c3 status and/or completion of 14-pt criteria by religious organizations without their own tax-exempt EIN
- Able to host mobile distributions a minimum of 4 times per month
- Meet the location requirements above
- Food Handler Certificate (Learn about training option)
- Civil Rights Training will be required once approved for partnership
- Client intake using a web-based platform must be completed during all distributions
- Saturday slots are limited! Preference will be given to mobiles who distribute on weekdays
MEAL SITES (Soup Kitchen, Shelters, etc)
- IRS determination letter stating 501c3 status and/or completion of 14-pt criteria by religious organizations without their own tax-exempt EIN
- Food Dealer/Food Establishment Permit (non-profit) issued by local county/city health department as required.
- Certificate of Occupancy and Operation License
- Food Manager’s Certificate is REQUIRED for all meal sites (Learn about training option)
- Regular Pest Control
- Abide by Food Storage Handling and Safety Practices that are in conformance with local, state, and federal regulations
- Civil Rights Training will be required once approved for partnership
- Client intake using a web-based platform must be completed during all distributions
Know your Civil Rights. Click the link to read details and find out how to file a complaint.
Join us for an info session!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE?
The Houston Food Bank hosts quarterly partnership information sessions. If you are located in one of the identified areas/zip codes listed above, join us to learn more about partner criteria, requirements, commitments, and the overall application and approval process.
When:
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 :: 10am – 11:30am
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 :: 10am – 11:30am
Wednesday. August 28, 2024 :: 10am – 11:30am
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 :: 10 – 11:30am
Where:
Houston Food Bank, 535 Portwall St. Houston, TX 77029
Community Room A
How To Attend:
RSVP by providing required information on our Partner Services Information Session RSVP Form.
For organizations interested in serving their community but not able to establish a long-term partnership with HFB:
- Partner Services strongly encourages collaborating with an existing and local HFB partner.
- If interested in working with an existing partner in a volunteering capacity, please visit our Partner locator. (These partners may also serve as a resource if you are looking for available distributions in your area to refer clients to on an on-going basis.)
- NOTE: Examples of collaboration could include but not be limited to bringing volunteers, additional food/non-food items and services to an already scheduled distribution event.
Steps Towards A Permanent Collaboration
– STEP 1 –
INFO SESSIONS & APPLICATIONS
Info Sessions & Applications
- Info sessions will contain important information and directions on the steps to becoming a partner with HFB.
- Partnership applications will be sent out after attending the info session. Please submit the application and any requested items to ensure the application will be pushed forward to the next step.
– STEP 2 –
INSPECTION & APPROVAL
Inspection
A Community Partner Liaison will schedule a meeting to inspect your future distribution site. Please note the meeting is based off the Liaison’s availability.
- Pantry applications will need an inspection of food storage area(s).
- Meal site (soup kitchens, shelters, etc) applicants will need an inspection of the kitchen and food storage area(s).
- HFB will review written records of clients and client need.
Approval
- Partnership application will be reviewed by the Strategic Partnership Committee.
- The committee’s decision will be communicated to you by a Liaison.
– STEP 3 –
SIGN ALL AGREEMENTS & TRAINING
After approval…
- Partner will read and sign partnership agreement.
- Partner will complete required online civil rights certification and food safety training.
- Partner will attend a mandatory all-day on-boarding orientation and training. (Trainings may be in-person, virtual, or a combination of both.)
For questions regarding collaborating with Houston Food Bank as a hunger relief network partner, please contact: