Agency Partners
TCFB is a clearing house for receiving food. We distribute donated and purchased product indirectly to clients, through our Agency Partners, and we offer direct service through TCFB programs and the Mobile Food Pantry.
Access Portal
Welcome to the Agency Partner Portal for Treasure Coast Food Bank’s member agencies! We hope you find this to be an easy way to access all of the resources, forms and information you need to be successful in your mission.
Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions about navigating this web page, or if you have any suggestions for additional resources by calling 772-489-3034.
TCFB appreciates that your organization:
- Demonstrates a commitment to serving those who are at risk of food insecurity.
- Have dedicated and motivated staff and volunteers committed to providing great service, maintaining records, and proper reporting to ensure the continued success of the program.
The mission of the Treasure Coast Food Bank: Our mission is to alleviate hunger by obtaining and distributing food and other essentials in Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee Counties.
Nondiscrimination Statement:
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
- Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; - Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
- Email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Who can be an Agency Partner?
We welcome applications from human service non-profit agencies interested in receiving donated commodities to be provided to the ill, needy or infants. These organizations include (but are not limited to) the following.
- Emergency Food Pantry Assistance
- Emergency Kitchen (soup kitchen/meals)
- Emergency Shelter
- Homeless Drop In Centers
- Rehab Centers
- Snack Programs (After school, Education outreach)
- Residential Treatment Facilities
- State Licensed Group Homes that have paid live-in staff and curriculum
- Transitional Living Facilities
- Senior Programs
- Youth Programs
Things to consider
Who can't become an Agency Partner?
Due to limited resources or Feeding America and IRS regulations, we do not partner with organizations that:
- Are seasonal – Example: wish to hand out food only at Christmas or Thanksgiving. Summer-Only programs may qualify for partnership as a Summer Feeding site and should contact the Food Bank Programs department for more information and application process. Are municipalities – Example: Schools, government agencies (These may qualify to be a program site of TCFB – Call Program department for more information).
- Do not have proper secured storage and a volunteer base to physically and safely handle, store and distribute donated commodities.
- Are seeking food to support international food relief efforts. (TCFB is a member of Feeding America and commodities are restricted to relief efforts in Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties. International relief efforts should contact the Global Foodbanking Network at www.foodbanking.org.
- Any organization that seeks to deny service to individuals based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
Shared Handling Fee
DO WE PAY FOR FOOD?
Agency Partners do not pay for food. 80% of the food available to agencies through our organization goes out free of charge, including all fresh fruits and vegetables to encourage the distribution of healthy and nutritious food to our community. An 18 cents per pound shared handling fee will be administered for all special care items, including frozen foods and all non-food items.
The handling fee helps TCFB in deferring transportation and refrigeration costs associated with bringing in food to our area for use by partners. While the handling fee does not cover all transportation and refrigeration costs, it does help and TCFB will continue to absorb the additional costs.
All other services (training, nutrition information, technical support, and troubleshooting) are at no additional cost to Partner Agencies.
Minimum standards for emergency food pantry programs
Treasure Coast Food Bank Agency Partner Minimum Standards for emergency food pantry programs:
- Be open a minimum of twice a month for a minimum of two hours each distribution.
- Display a food pantry sign visible to the public with the following information:
- Days/Hours of Operation
- How often a household may visit
- What to bring (if any)
- Must have experience and be in operation and providing services for a minimum of 60 days.
- This does not apply to current Agency Partners opening additional locations.
Getting Started
1
Complete and return application and accompanying forms.
2
Attend a Treasure Coast Food Bank Agency Partner Orientation/Safe Food Handling/Civil Rights class.
3
Pass a physical site inspection.
4
Go to Servsafe.com to complete a Food Handlers Certification for Food Pantries, or a Food Managers Certification for agencies who prepare and serve food. Fees apply.
Your Agency Partner application must be complete and return the following:
- The Agency Partner application form.
- Program model outline.
- Copy of 501(c) (3) non-profit organization by the IRS or be affiliated with a 501(c) (3) umbrella organization. An Agency which is a church or a program directly sponsored by a church may use the non-profit designation of the parent affiliation of that church or may affirm by written statement that it essentially meets the fourteen criteria employed by the IRS in defining a church.
- You must also include the completed USDA Eligibility Questionnaire if applicable.
- Copies of any Health Department permits, inspections, Food Manager’s Certificate and/or Food Handler Certifications.
- Signed Letter of Agreement.
- Provide active email account contact information.
Begin Your Application
The Food Bank board and staff are excited to partner with you. We look forward to working with you!
Forms
Complete this form if you need to update TCFB on contact name, phone, agency hours of distribution, etc:
Agency Information Update
Monthly distribution reports are due on the 10th of each month for the prior month. Use this form:
Monthly Distribution Report
Food pantries should have clients sign-in on this food pantry clients sign-in sheet to help maintain organization and to identify new clients:
Client Sign In Sheet
The form below is a sample temperature log. This or a temperature log of your choice should be used to record temperatures of any refrigerators/freezers used to store food received from TCFB.
Temperature Log
TEFAP/USDA
TEFAP Eligibility Forms 2025:
English 2025
Spanish 2025
Creole 2025
USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form
TEFAP & Civil Rights Training Log
Posters
These posters are a helpful reminder for you and your volunteers and can be posted anywhere within your food storage area.
Expiration Date Guidelines
Temperature Chart
Storage Poster
Hand Washing Sign