Food banks across America have experienced an average 60% increase in demand since the beginning of 2020. The real surge began when millions of jobs were lost at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March and July, about 4 in 10 people who came to a food bank did so for the first time.

The situation has many people considering starting new food banks in their own communities. Doing so is a wonderful idea, but one should expect significant challenges. Here are some steps to consider:

It’s Like a Business

You may be giving away your product for free but running a food bank has all the earmarks of running a small business. Starting a business requires a business plan. Thus, the first step is to write a formal business or operational plan for how your food bank will function.

The good news is that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You can obtain a “template business plan” for a non-profit enterprise here: Food Bank business guide...

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