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Merced
County Food Bank
The
Merced County Food Bank is a non-profit agency that receives
partial funding from the United Way of Merced County.
The Merced County Food Bank provides much needed food
to emergency food providers throughout Merced County.
The
food bank is the result of a collaboration of local social
service agencies, the Federal Emergency Food Services
(FEMA) and local government officials that collectively
formed a task force to examine the various issues involved.
Through this collaboration, a coordinated effort among
agencies has resulted in a central hub of food distribution.
By coordinating the effort, food costs are reduced, less
food goes to waste and it allows participating agencies
to meet their needs - which are not always predictable.
The concerted effort also was in response to a need for
a centralized resource that made it convenient for participants
to acquire their needs in one-stop thus reducing the cost
of travel.
It is also the goal of the Merced County Food Bank to
educate the community as to the issues of hunger. According
to 2003 U.S. census poverty estimates , 42,640 people
in Merced County (18.2% of the population) live below
the poverty level. The Merced County Food Bank distributes
food to emergency providers to feed approximately 4,385
people every month. Currently, only 10% of the need is
being met.
In October of 2004, the Merced County Food Bank opened
its doors to a new site providing 4,800 square feet of
storage space with commercial freezer and refrigeration
capacity.
Merced
County Food Bank, Inc.
PO Box 1822
Winton, CA 95388
209-726-3663 (voice)
209-385-1492 (fax)
foodbankm@hughes.net
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