Do partner agencies have to pay for food they get from Tarrant Area Food Bank?
Not exactly. Partner Agencies pay a Shared Maintenance Fee to share in the costs of procuring and distributing food by sharing in the ongoing costs of operating Tarrant Area Food Bank as a distribution center. The Shared Maintenance Fee ranges from zero cents per pound to a maximum of 18 cents per pound for all products except fresh breads and dairy products, which are free. The maximum amount for the Shared Maintenance Fee is set by Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest). The exception to this explanation is the Food Bank’s Cooperative Food Purchase Program. Partner Agencies can choose to access selected items by paying the actual bulk-rate price paid by Tarrant Area Food Bank plus a 2- to 3-cent Shared Maintenance Fee. This program supplies food products that are difficult to obtain as donations.
