Becoming a Member Agency

Feeding programs across western Massachusetts – including food pantries, meal sites, shelters, childcare centers, rehabilitation homes, and other programs serving needy people – are potentially eligible to become members of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.  Our service area includes Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties.

A variety of criteria and documentation must be met as part of the member agency application.  For more information, please contact our Agency Relations department at 413-247-9738.

Overview of criteria for membership

• Agency must be incorporated as a 501(c)3 organization or recognized as a nonprofit religious organization by the IRS, for at least six months.
• Agency must be located in The Food Bank’s service area.
• Agency must be legally, fiscally, and programmatically responsible for the feeding program it administers.
• Feeding program must serve at least 51% clients who are deemed “needy” based on income, means-tested federal or state assistance, or location in a disadvantaged community.

Food Bank member partners include both Emergency Food Programs and Non-Emergency Food Programs.  Emergency food programs are open to the public and include:

• Food pantry
• Meal program
• Drug rehabilitation program
• Shelter with a maximum stay of 6 months or less

Non-emergency food programs include:

• Residential
• Childcare
• Camp
• Elder
• Youth
• Day program

For details about the process of becoming a member program or agency, please contact our Agency Relations department at 413-247-9738.