Food Banking

America's Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network is the largest charitable hunger-relief organization in the country addressing the problem of domestic hunger by distributing more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery product annually to more than 25 million hungry people in the United States, including 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. Learn more on how we work .

1960s	The first food bank was established. Concept of food banking began in Phoenix, Arizona. John van Hengel, a retired businessman, volunteered at a local soup kitchen. Van Hengel decided to set up a warehouse where he could store the donated products and distribute them to charities feeding hungry people in Phoenix.
1970s	Several other food banks started in various cities.
1976	The federal government gave John van Hengel's food bank a grant to assist in developing food banks throughout the nation.
1979	America's Second Harvest soon became the clearinghouse for large donations from national corporations.
1982	Federal funding was discontinued. America's Second Harvest increased its pursuit of alternative sources of financial support.
1984	America's Second Harvest national office moved to Chicago, Illinois.
1980s	With many major cities having food banks, network expansion slowed and America's Second Harvest's focus shifted to improving existing programs.
1999	Organization name change to America’s Second Harvest with a new focused goal on ending hunger in America.
2000	America's Second Harvest merged with Foodchain, the nation's largest food-rescue organization - producing the most comprehensive and efficient charitable food rescue and distribution organization in the country
2005	In order to provide better national alignment for a cohesive food bank network, name changed to America’s Second Harvest — The Nation’s Food Bank Network.
2008	Today, America’s Second Harvest is a national network of more than 200 member food banks and food-rescue organizations serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.