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Food Banks in the United States: Systems, USDA Programs, and Participation

  • by Laura J. Hales, Anne T. Byrne, Laura Tiehen, Shellye Suttles, Rachel M. Zack, Ashley Chaifetz, Susannah Barr and Ayana Charity
  • 7/2/2026
  • ERR-359

Overview

Charitable food assistance networks collectively distribute billions of dollars’ worth of food assistance to U.S. residents every year. This report explores charitable food assistance systems, explains how USDA programs fit into those systems, and reports trends in participation among households that benefit from those systems. It focuses specifically on food banks as they are key components that collect, store, and distribute large quantities of food.

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