Agency Partners

The Food Bank Coalition is the only countywide source of nutritious food for people in need, providing services that span from San Miguel to Nipomo. Working hand in hand with volunteers, donors, corporate sponsors, and non-profit agency partners, it is our goal to see that no one in San Luis Obispo County goes hungry.

As a part of Feeding America, the largest non-governmental domestic hunger relief organization in the nation, we work with over 200 non-profit agencies throughout the county that distribute food to people in need as a part of their scope of services. These agencies include but are not limited to after school programs, church pantries, and senior centers. The Food Bank and our agency partners follow the guidelines established by Feeding America and are subject to regular compliance monitoring.

Place a Food Order

Call (805) 238-4664 to schedule a pick up appointment
Two business days prior to appointment, request a food menu (this reflects current inventory broken down into itemized categories).
Agency must then submit their food order request by emailing a completed form to agencyorders@slofoodbank.org within 24 hours to ensure inventory still matches food list.
Food Bank will then build your requested order in time to pick up during your agency's schedule pick-up appointment.

Receive a Food Order

One hour shopping appointments will shift to 30 minute appointments to pick-up pre-ordered food directly at our new warehouse (1180 Kendall Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401)
Process will now be: authorized shopper signs in at Agency Clerk desk, verifies that built order matches requested order, sign invoice, keep copy of invoice for own records, sign-out, and load product into own vehicle.

Co-Op Food Order

Co-op orders will continue to be available to all agency partners that request a menu.
Orders that exceed $500 are eligible for direct delivery
Delivery orders require a 72 hour minimum
To request a food menu please email co-oporders@slofoodbank.org or by calling (805) 238-4664.

Mobile Agency Market

This food sourcing option takes place every Monday from 9 AM - 11 AM (market will be closed on holidays)
North County site: Grace Baptist Church, 535 Creston Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446
South County site: New Life Community Church, 990 James Way, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
Every Thursday a survey will be emailed through which your agency can request food. Please complete this by 3pm on the Friday prior to the weekly market.

Contact Information

Food ordering emails:

co-oporders@slofoodbank.org
agencyorders@slofoodbank.org

Please contact Aracely Aceves Lozano if you have any questions (805) 238-4664 or aalozano@slofoodbank.org.

Agency Partner Eligibility

Must serve low-income individuals
Have a tax-exempt status under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Operate a program that incorporates food assistance as a part of its normal scope of services
Maintain regularly scheduled hours
Have other sources of obtaining food from within your organization
Distribute food within San Luis Obispo County
Have strong volunteer support

Benefits

By joining the Food Bank Coalition's network of non-profit agency partners, your food program and ultimately your recipients will benefit by having access to the following:

Ability to source food at a low cost
Joint fundraising opportunities to earn food credit at our warehouse
Ongoing support and resources through agency partner newsletter
Bi-monthly regional informational meetings to share best practices

Ongoing Requirements

Quarterly Report
For auditing purposes, we need to track all food that goes through our doors. Agency Partners must therefore submit a report at the end of every quarter reflecting the number of households served, the total number of individuals served, and the ages of those individuals. For this reason, it is important your agency has a system in place to track this information. Quarterly reports are due no later than January 15th, April 15th, July 15th, and October 15th.
ServSafe Online Training
Agency Partners are required to have at least one staff member or volunteer leader who has completed the ServeSafe food handler training. This training is available online, takes about 3 hours to complete, costs $15, and is valid for 3 years.
Site Visits
An authorized Food Bank staff will conduct a site visit at least once every 2 years to monitor safety and procedural changes. This opportunity allows us to find out what good things your agency is doing and ways that we can better partner together.

Getting Started

Please follow the steps outlined below to start the process of becoming an Agency Partner

Submit a completed and signed copy of our Application for Partnership form
Submit letter from IRS confirmng your agency is classified as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit
Take the ServSafe food handler online training, then print and submit certificate of completion
Schedule an initial site visit.