food bank

American  

noun

food banks plural

1. an agency, group, or center that collects food and distributes it to people experiencing food insecurity.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• food banks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of food bank

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

We also donate monthly to a food bank that provides backpacks filled with food for children to take home over the weekend.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 20, 2026

On a recent morning, Ana Alvarez waited in a line of vehicles at a St. Mary’s food bank in Phoenix.

From Salon • Jun. 18, 2026

But it might have helped if you’d done something of purpose at some point in your life, like run a successful business or volunteer at a food bank.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026

"With gas this high, I go to the food bank now, more so than ever," the retiree told AFP.

From Barron's • May 2, 2026

And Saturday afternoons, my mom signed me up for the food bank.

From "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz