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New York Times > Food Banks:
"Food banks are organizations that distribute the food for people who need it. While the term is sometimes used for organizations that hand out food directly, more often food banks act in effect as wholesalers, giving or selling food at discounted prices to the soup kitchens or food pantries that give it out. Food banks receive product from a variety of sources, including donations, federal programs and excess retail inventory.

In late 2007, food banks reported seeing record numbers of people requesting food aid. At the same time the donations from a federal program that gives food banks excess crops is at a low, and retail contributions are down sharply because tougher inventory control has reduced waste.

Ross Fraser, a spokesman for America’s Second Harvest, which distributes more than two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually, said the shortages at food banks were the worst the organization had seen in 26 years.

“Suddenly it’s on everyone’s radar,” Mr. Fraser said. “Food banks are calling us and saying, ‘My God, we have to get food.’”
--Katie Zezima, Nov. 29, 2007 (NYT)