Food banks distribute food to qualifying charitable agencies, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters, most of which provide food directly to needy clients through various types of feeding programs.

Some agencies operate single-type and single-site programs, while others offer multiple programs. For example, a local church agency may operate a soup kitchen for homeless people, a day care center for working families, and a senior meals program for elderly parishioners.

Emergency Food Programs include food pantries, food shelves, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, Kids Cafes, and other non-profit charitable agencies whose primary purpose is to offer food assistance. People being fed are in an economic crisis and are typically in need of short-term or temporary assistance.