A food bank's demand is up 30% while donations are flat. How would you help?

To start, I'd like to understand the gap. Are they turning people away today, or giving each family less? And are donations mostly food or mostly money? I'd look at it from three sides. The first is supply. How can they bring in more food and money? I'd look at each source separately, since flat overall can hide one source falling. The second is how far each dollar and each pound of food goes. I'd look at their costs. I'd also look at how much food is wasted. The third is demand. Why is it up 30%, and will it last? The answer changes what kind of fix they need. Then I'd size the options against the gap and rank them by how fast they help. I'd start with supply, because it's the most direct. Do we know where donations come from?

To start, I'd like to understand the gap. Are they turning people away today, or giving each family less? And are donations mostly food or mostly money? I'll assume they've cut what each family gets, and that about two thirds of what comes in is donated food. I'd look at it from three sides. The first is supply. How can they bring in more food and money? I'd look at each source separately, since flat overall can hide one source falling. That means grocery stores and manufacturers giving surplus, government programs, individual donors and grants. Cash is also worth more than cans, because a food bank buys in bulk for far less than a shopper pays. The second is how far each dollar and each pound of food goes. I'd look at their costs. I'd also look at how much food is wasted. How much spoils before it's handed out? What do storage and trucks cost? Could they share a warehouse or buying with other food banks in the region? The third is demand. Why is it up 30%, and will it last? The answer changes what kind of fix they need. If it's a plant closure, that's a spike. If it's rents and food prices, it's the new normal and the fix has to be permanent. I'd also ask whether partners like churches or schools could serve some of these families. Then I'd size the options against the gap and rank them by how fast they help. A 30% gap probably needs something quick, like an emergency appeal, and something lasting, like new store partners. My hypothesis is that the fastest win is on the supply side, by shifting donors from food to cash and signing more surplus partners. I'd start with donations by source over three years. Is that available?