Editing Food distribution (section)

== Food distribution organizations ==

=== The FAO ===
[[File:FAO_logo.svg|thumb|136x136px|Logo of the Food and Agriculture Organization.]]

One of the largest organizations working to avoiding food distribution crises on the global stage in the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] ([[Food and Agriculture Organization|FAO]]). The FAO is a branch of the [[United Nations]], and actively works to improve food distribution in countries that need support<ref name=":6" />

=== Organizations within the United States ===

==== Federal and large-scale ====
Several different organizations exist to mitigate and respond to food distribution crises in the United States. Prominent contributors to large-scale food distribution effort in the US include the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA), [[United States Department of Agriculture|United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)]], and [[The Salvation Army|Salvation Army]]. FEMA and the USDA work together during food distribution crises to coordinate the procurement and transportation of [[Food preservation|nonperishable food]], [[water]], and other [[resource]]s to afflicted areas. The Salvation Army receives federal supplies from FEMA and the USDA, and then works on the local level to distribute necessary goods. All food given to civilians during a crisis is typically distributed at mass emergency feeding stations.<ref name=":5" />

==== Volunteer and local ====
[[File:FEMA_-_35275_-_American_Red_Cross_booth_at_FEMA_Hurricane_Awareness_Day.jpg|thumb|An American Red Cross volunteer explains a program to people visiting their display during FEMA's Hurricane Awareness Day.]]

Groups like FEMA, the USDA, and the Salvation Army could not operate without help from volunteers and small [[Nonprofit organization|nonprofit]] groups. Prominent contributors to local food disaster efforts include groups like [[Emergency Communities]] and the American Rainbow Rapid Response (ARRR). These organizations typically focus on supplying [[Rural area|rural]] and lower income areas that do not receive priority from large food distribution groups during a crisis.<ref name=":5" />

==== The American Red Cross ====
{{main article|American Red Cross}}

Another group that works out of the United States is the [[American Red Cross]].  The American Red Cross is part of the [[International Committee of the Red Cross|International Red Cross]], and 95% of all workers within the American Red Cross are volunteers. In the case of all crises, whether food related or not, the American Red Cross in engaged in relieving disaster victims. The Red Cross coordinates with local communities to provide essentials such as food, water, and hot meals for those in need during a crisis.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=http://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief|title=Disaster Relief|date=2016|website=American Red Cross|publisher=The American National Red Cross|access-date=2016-11-14}}</ref>

==== Food Distribution and Food Insecurity ====
Organizations that are founded to target food insecurity have relied on food distribution to serve people in need of regular nutritious foods. [[Food bank|Food banks]] are the proper term to call these kind of organizations where they use "government sector, private sector, and civil society"<ref name=":11" /> to distribute and recover food that will ultimately go to waste. In the United States, there are many organizations all over the country that have the same similar goal however, there is not much effective collaboration between all organizations because it is challenging to coordinate efficient communication within one another. <ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Osland|first1=Travis J.|last2=Baker|first2=Gregory A.|last3=Osland|first3=Travis J.|last4=Baker|first4=Gregory A.|date=2020|title=Fresh Produce Donations in California: Opportunities for and Challenges to Increasing Volume and Reducing Food Insecurity|journal=Journal of Food Distribution Research|url=https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/309027|language=en|doi=10.22004/AG.ECON.309027}}</ref> There is one large organization that focuses on distributing food to people who need it in the United States, [[Feeding America]] has over 200 food banks and 60,000 [[food pantries]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=How Do Food Banks Work? {{!}} Feeding America|url=https://www.feedingamerica.org/our-work/food-bank-network|access-date=2021-05-14|website=www.feedingamerica.org}}</ref>  There are more organizations that focus on distributing food that work independently and are not as big as Feeding America that contribute to distributing food to help with the issue of food insecurity.