Hello Janice,
I am not sure how foodbanks work in your part of the world. I volunteer for
our foodband in regional, Western Australia.  In WA the foodbank gets sent
what ever is currently in at the central distribution depot. They can
request items, however what they get is only what donations the central
foodbank receive. Now I am sure the formula manufacturers would *love* to
donate.
In practice when the goods arrive at the regional foodbank centres it is
placed on shelves and the various agencies then select what they want then
they go back to their church or wherever and bundle up boxes of food
products which they then give to the needy they are in contact with. The
biggest problem is the people who select the food from the foodbank do not
always know who the end customer is. They may have an idea that one of the
customers has a baby and in a well meaning action include a can of formula
because *it is there* on the foodbank shelves, just in case it is needed.
Another concern is that sometimes food stuffs at the foodbank  are past
there use-by date. Now this may not be a problem for a packet of rice or
flour but old infant formula is a problem.
Unfortunately, as the food banks rely mostly on donations for their food
stuffs much of what gets donated is non-essentials like biscuits, chocolate
bars and soft drinks (the manufacturers of these products, like the formula
companies are very *generous*)  rather than basic food stuffs.
Sorry Janice I raised more questions than given answers.
Is is possible to request good, healthy food stuffs from the foodbank for
families with babies/children so you can feed the mum who feeds the baby?
and then the agencies only buy in infant formula, when really necessary and
purchase it from a local supermarket, still in the use by date, at cost
price?  Many supermarkets here donate damaged stock (tins that are dropped
etc) to the foodbank and if approached may be willing to do this
occasionally.
Susan

Susan Day IBCLC
Breastfeeding counsellor Kalgoorlie-Boulder group of
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Mother to 5 breastfed daughters

Breastfeeding...The first choice for a healthy, sustainable future.

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