Mobile Pantries: Bringing Fresh Food to Communities in Need

Fresh, healthy food tends to have a short shelf life. To make sure it gets to our clients as quickly as possible and to increase the amount we were able to distribute, Feeding America West Michigan developed the Mobile Food Pantry Program in 1998.

Mobile Pantries are like farmers’ markets on wheels, delivering a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and baked goods to people in need, often on the same day the food is donated. Hosted by churches, schools, and community centers, a Mobile Pantry can feed between 100 and 400 households. Today, Mobile Pantries account for roughly 40% of the food we distribute annually, and the model has been adopted by food banks across the country.

Learn about hosting a Mobile Pantry in your community.