An E-Newsletter for Neighbors Served by Food Bank Programs & Partners
We’d love to keep you up-to-date on distribution schedules & changes, special events, and more. Sign up today to join the mailing list for our monthly e-newsletter.
Explore the Food Bank and Partner Distributions Locator and Calendar for all food resources available to help you meet your food needs. You can also scroll down to view and download PDFs of the monthly Mobile Harvest calendar, lists of our partner food pantries with their service hours, and the TEFAP distribution schedule.
PLEASE NOTE: Food distributions are not held at the Food Bank’s warehouse. If you are in need of food assistance, we ask that you review the resources listed here or call with questions about locations and schedules for distributions. We may not be able to accommodate requests for food assistance from those who arrive at the Food Bank warehouse.
Partner Food Pantries
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada distributes food to local food pantries so that people and families can receive a bag of groceries and other emergency food assistance close to their own neighborhoods. These food pantries are open to help on different days of the week and at various times during those days. Those in need of food assistance can find a variety of resources available through our partner agencies and direct service programs.
Find a food pantry near you
Reno/Sparks: English | Spanish
Rural Nevada & California:
- Carson City, Douglas, Storey, and Rural Washoe County: English | Spanish
- Churchill, Lyon, and Mineral County: English | Spanish
- Elko, Eureka, Lander, and White Pine County: English | Spanish
- Humboldt and Pershing County: English | Spanish
- Truckee and Lake Tahoe Communities: English | Spanish
- Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra County: English | Spanish
- Inyo and Mono County: English | Spanish
Mobile Harvest
Access to nutritious, healthful food is vital for the community members we serve. Throughout the month, the Food Bank’s Mobile Harvest program visits neighborhoods across northern Nevada and eastern California to distribute produce and other fresh food items to clients. All community members in need of food assistance are welcome to visit Mobile Harvest. There are no qualification requirements, and each household may pick up food from a Mobile Harvest distribution once per week.
View the Mobile Harvest Schedule:
Washoe County: December 2024
Rural Northern Nevada & California Communities: December 2024
Washoe County: January 2025
Rural Northern Nevada & California Communities: January 2025
Intake Form: English | Spanish
what to expect when arriving at mobile harvest
- Many Mobile Harvest distributions are currently being run as a drive-through format. When you arrive at a drive-through site, please be sure to pay close attention to all signs, as well as staff and volunteers directing traffic. We kindly ask that you remain in your vehicle the entire time. Your groceries will be loaded into your vehicle for you; please have the door unlocked and ensure that there is space available for the food.
- Those without transportation are still welcome to visit drive-through Mobile Harvest sites and will be served via a walk-up line.
- Other sites will be using our walk-up distribution model. All walk-up sites will marked accordingly on the monthly schedule.
- When attending a walk-up site, please remember to bring your own bags for us to pack your selected items into. We cannot guarantee that we will have bags available for those who don’t have their own.
- Note about TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program): TEFAP is a federal program run by the USDA that provides food assistance based on income guidelines. Occasionally, some produce at Mobile Harvest distributions comes from TEFAP, meaning only those who meet the program’s income eligibility can receive those specific items. However, even if you don’t qualify for TEFAP, you’re still welcome to visit Mobile Harvest and receive all the other food items available that aren’t part of TEFAP.
Intake & check-in
- Intake Form: During your first visit to Mobile Harvest, and once per year after, we will need to collect an Intake Form from you. Please know that your responses to the questions on this form are completely confidential and in no way impact your ability to receive food assistance through Mobile Harvest. If you have a printer available to you, you can make the intake process on-site even faster by downloading and completing this form prior to arriving at the site. English Intake Form | Spanish Intake Form
- Barcode IDs: If you have an ID that has a barcode on it, we ask that you provide this during check-in, as it can greatly speed up the check-in process. Please note, IDs are not required, and you will still be happily served with or without one. This request simply helps to move the line along more quickly.
Having others pick food up on your behalf
- If you are unable to make it to a distribution for any reason, you may have a friend/family member pick up your food if you have completed an Authorization Form and designated the person on this form. You may designate up to three people to pick up food on your behalf. Your household may still only receive food once per week, regardless of who is attending the distribution.
- If you have not already completed the Authorization Form, you may download and complete it here and have the person bring it with them to the distribution: English | Spanish
- Please note, you must already have a form on file with us OR the person attending the distribution must bring the form completed and signed by you with them, or we will not be able to allow them to pick up food on your behalf.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that provides food commodities at no cost to Americans in need of short-term hunger relief through food providers like emergency food pantries, food banks, soup kitchens and shelters.
The types of USDA foods expected to be available are juices, canned fruits and vegetables, canned and/or frozen meats, dry beans, and pastas. Food may be picked up once per month at a designated location. There will be no make-up benefits. If you do not participate during a month at your designated location, you will lose your benefits for that month.
For questions regarding eligibility or distribution, contact Chris Gleim, Commodities and Procurement Programs Supervisor, at (775) 331-3663 ext 129.
To Qualify:
- ID and proof of Nevada residency is required for the receipt of USDA food
- Each household must read the “Self Declaration Assurance” and certify eligibility by signing the issuance sheet that their household income does not exceed 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. View the TEFAP income eligibility guidelines here.
- For each additional household member add $793.00 per month
View the TEFAP Distribution Schedule
The Food Bank of Northern Nevada is an equal opportunity employer and provider. View the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Nondiscrimination Statement.
