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Feeding Westchester: New Member Application 

     Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of Feeding Westchester! We are proud to be Westchester County’s only Food Bank that supports nearly 300 Feeding Programs. As a hunger-relief organization, our mission is to end hunger in Westchester County. We are committed to ensuring all of our hungry neighbors have access to healthy and nutritious food and all are treated with dignity, respect, and kindness.
Please read the below information thoroughly. If your agency meets all requirements, please submit your application and attach all documents.

MEMBER BENEFITS:
 Becoming a member of Feeding Westchester offers many benefits:
  • We are a partner focused on helping you accomplish your mission of feeding the hungry and preventing food insecurity
  • We offer a wide variety of food and household products in one place   
  • Feeding Westchester offers nutrition education for clients, volunteers, and program staff        
  • Feeding Westchester provides program support and resources related to food distribution   
  • You can easily view, select, and order product online        
  • You are part of the largest Westchester County network helping to reduce hunger

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PARTNER AGENCIES:
  • Organizations must be a recognized charity with a feeding program serving the needy, ill, and infants
  • Organizations must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization (church status is acceptable in lieu of 501(c)(3) status) or partner with a local not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization that will be fiscally, legally, and programmatically responsible for the agency described in the application
  • The food program must operate for at least six months prior to applying for membership
  • The food program must have regular hours of operation, established procedures, and rules and regulations under which the program operates
  • The food program must provide food free of charge or obligation to all people
  • The organization must have a defined method/system for how food will be distributed
  • The food program must distribute food/meals at least once a month. Feeding Westchester encourages more 
  • The food program must not discriminate based on race, religion, or creed and cannot require individuals to participate in ecumenical or educational services as a requirement for receiving food
  • The organization must have appropriate physical capacity to receive and distribute food safely. The food program cannot be located in a personal residence (note: all sites will be reviewed by Feeding Westchester staff via an on-site visit)
  • The organization must have adequate staff and/or volunteers to support their feeding program and identify a key staff member/volunteer to serve as the primary contact for the program
  • Program staff/volunteer agrees to access and submit information via the Internet for food orders and monthly client service reporting
  • Food Program staff agree to take an online food safety training offered by Feeding Westchester prior to becoming a member
  • An approved Client Registration System will be used at each food distribution to document the number of people and households served.  Feeding Westchester will transition to an online client registration system that all members will use. This system will collect data such as name, address, date of service, and number of people served in household
  • A designated person(s) from your feeding program must attend agency orientations prior to membership and ongoing as needed
  • Agency agrees to regular on-site visits from Feeding Westchester staff
  • A food program preparing and/or serving meals on site must have a permit to operate a food service establishment from the local Department of Health and hold a valid ServSafe certificate

In addition to these minimum requirements, your agency will be reviewed on the number of households and clients you do and can serve, whether there is any network duplication in your service area, and/or whether your service area is an underserved area or serves an underserved population.
 
*Required Documents for Application Process:
  • Proof of 501(c) 3 status – (A photocopy of your IRS/US Dept. of Treasury Letter of Determination stating you have 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status)
  • Current copy of Certificate of Liability Insurance
  • List of Board of Directors
 


APPLICATION PROCESS:
 
What to expect once you have submitted your application:
  • Applicants that meet qualifications for membership will be contacted by a Feeding Westchester staff member within 2-3 weeks after submission date to schedule an on-site or virtual site visit if applicable.
  • Once we have conducted a site visit, and your site meets requirements to operate as a feeding program, you will be scheduled to receive an orientation that will provide you with information about how to place orders for food from inventory, managing grants, submitting statistics, and other responsibilities that will help you to remain in good standing with Feeding Westchester.
  • Applications received that do not meet requirements or are incomplete without requested documents will be rejected. You can submit another application at a later time. Additionally, submission of an application does not guarantee membership.


Please complete the below application and ensure you Submit.


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