Glossary
America's Second Harvest became Feeding America in 2008. This study was published prior to that name change in 2001.
Agency: The charitable organization supplied with food by a food bank or food-rescue organization that provides food directly to needy clients through various types of programs.
Food Bank: A charitable organization that solicits, receives, inventories, and stores donated food and grocery products pursuant to grocery industry and appropriate regulatory standards. These products are distributed to charitable human service agencies, which, in turn, provide the products directly to needy clients through various agencies.
Food Pantry (Food Shelf): A food distribution agency that provides its clients food for home preparation and consumption.
Food-Rescue Organization: A charitable organization that collects prepared and/or perishable foods, pursuant to its local health department and/or appropriate regulatory standards. This food is distributed either directly to needy people or to charitable human service agencies, which, in turn, provide the food to needy clients through various types of agencies.
Shelter: An organization whose primary purpose is to provide shelter on a short-term or temporary basis to needy clients.
Soup Kitchen: An organization whose primary purpose is to provide prepared meals served in the kitchen for needy clients.
