Roadrunner Food Bank

Policy Statement

09-August-2005

The mission and philosophy of Roadrunner Food Bank is to get food into the hands of the hungry without barriers.  We work on a daily basis with hundreds of religious organizations statewide. For 25 years, we have continued to serve the hungry regardless of affiliation and creed.  Our agency policies are set forth to ensure that those in need will receive food.  

Following are Roadrunner Food Bank polices that support this mission:

Eligibility Criteria Policy:

The organizations that distribute food from the Roadrunner Food Bank must not require any individual to attend a religious or political meeting, nor may the individual be required to make a statement of faith or pledge membership to any religious or political organization as a requirement for receiving food.⁺⁺

New Mexico Association of Food Banks Agreement to Receive USDA Commodities:   (Signed by all Food Bank agencies accepting USDA Commodities.)⁺⁺

• We have been given a copy of the guidelines established for the distribution of USDA commodities and we agree to abide by them.

• Commodity foods will be used only to feed or distribute to 100% needy people. Need will be determined based on economic status, homelessness, disaster or other factors.

• We agree to use current income guidelines provided by the food bank in determining the eligibility of individuals to receive Commodity foods.

• Commodity foods will not be sold, traded or transferred to another group, used to raise money, or otherwise used for any purpose other and to feed or distribute to need people. We understand that if Commodity foods are misused or lost or damaged due to negligence a claim can be assessed against our organization.

• These foods will be served or distributed to needy people without regard to race, color religion, national origin, sex or handicap.

• We agree to inform recipients or commodity foods that participation in the activities of our agency is not a condition of eligibility for receiving commodities.

Religious Proselytizing Policy:  (Presented in its entirety)

Roadrunner Food Bank's mission is to end hunger, not to promote any religious or political affiliation.  However, many of our partner agencies are churches, synagogues, and other religious entities.  Consequently, it would be unreasonable for the Food Bank to assume that these agencies will provide their hunger relief services without some degree of religious activity.*

However, proselytizing must not be discriminatory or onerous (burdensome or time-consuming) to the client.  It is clearly stated in the Agency Letter of Agreement that any foods obtained from Roadrunner Food Bank must be free to the client without any requirement of payment or action from the client.  If an organization requires a client to participate in an event or a service to receive food, it is the same as requiring the client to pay for the food with the client's time.  Another issue with proselytizing is that clients coming to receive emergency food are in a vulnerable position and may feel pressured to participate.  We want clients that we serve to feel safe, not pressured, when receiving their food.

Therefore, all Roadrunner Food Bank agencies may not require clients or recipients to participate in any religious activity before receiving food.  All distribution of food boxes, congregate meals, snacks, etc. must be completed before any religious service or activity commences.  The client must be allowed to come and pick up their food box/sack or eat their meal and leave without participating in any service or activity.  They must be able to leave with the food or eat the food and then leave before having to listen to a sermon or religious teaching.  In other words, all clients must be free to leave the premises before any religious activity or service begins.

* This policy does not apply to agencies distributing USDA TEFAP commodities and/or Senior Helpings.  Agencies distributing these types of food products MUST NOT have any degree of religious activity involved with distribution, including prayer.  In fact, religious activity and commodity food distribution CANNOT occur on the same day.

⁺⁺Complete policies of Eligibility Criteria and New Mexico Association of Food Banks Agreement to Receive USDA Commodities are available upon request from Roadrunner Food Bank.

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