Shared Maintenance
Did you know the term "shared maintenance" is an IRS accepted term? We define shared maintenance fee as the fee charged on a per pound basis to recoup the Food Bank's costs of food industry donated food.
In order to partially cover the costs of purchasing, soliciting, collecting, storing and distributing millions of pounds of donated and purchased food each year, the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank assesses our partner agencies a shared maintenance fee of 19 cents per pound for non-perishable product.
We do not charge a shared maintence fee for any USDA government commodities, or products such as bread, produce or other items with a limited shelf life. Persons receiving food from our partner agencies can never be charged money for that food. The shared maintenance fee is assessed to our partner agencies to help the FAFB recoup some of the rising costs associated with all of the steps necessary to ensure only quality food is distributed to our partner agencies for distribution to those in need in the community.
We thought you should know.
Food Dating According to the USDA Website...
Most Dates on Food Are Voluntary
With exception of certain poultry, baby food products and formulas most all other food product expiration dates are not required by federal law but voluntarily provided by food manufacturers. This does vary from state to state and many states legislate sell-by dates for perishable foods. According to several sources including the USDA, there are 20 states that require some mandatory labeling for dairy products.
Dates Are Guidelines
For the most part, food dates are provided as guidelines for both product sellers and the buying public. Most dates are NOT expiration dates; with proper handling you are not going to get sick because you eat something past its "best by" date. According to the USDA website, some dates have become marketing devices for product manufactures.
Did you know there are only 7 Food Banks in Virginia?
Despite the fact that you may have heard of several different organizations within your community with the words "food bank" in their title, they are in fact Food Pantries.
The Fredericksburg Area Food Bank serves the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford and the City of Fredericksburg.
We are the:
- "Caroline County Food Bank"
- "King George County Food Bank"
- "Spotsylvania County Food Bank"
- "Stafford County Food Bank"
- "City of Fredericksburg Food Bank"
The Seven Food Banks of Virginia: