In a significant move highlighting the role of digital advocacy in addressing food insecurity, Food Bank News recently acknowledged the exceptional efforts of 42 food banks in their online advocacy work. This recognition is part of the Food Bank News Advocacy Honor Roll, which specifically evaluates the role of food banks in utilizing their websites for advocacy, especially in promoting and supporting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The evaluation by Food Bank News focused on several key criteria for effective online advocacy. Firstly, it examined how prominently SNAP was featured across various sections of a food bank’s website, considering its inclusion both in policy initiatives and as a practical option for individuals seeking food assistance. Secondly, the presence of a dedicated advocacy section on the website was assessed, noting the importance of providing visitors with clear calls to action and detailed information about the food bank’s supported policy initiatives.

In their comprehensive analysis of the top 100 food banks, determined by revenue as outlined in the 2022 report of the Top 300 Food Banks, Food Bank News found that 42 food banks excelled in all four identified areas of website advocacy, thus earning a spot on the “High Honor Roll.” Additionally, 17 food banks showed activity in three of the four areas, qualifying them for the “Honor Roll.”

SNAP outreach emerged as a dominant theme in the advocacy efforts of these food banks, with 77 out of the top 100 incorporating SNAP outreach on their websites. This outreach often involved innovative tools to facilitate SNAP applications, such as the inclusion of mRelief’s three-minute questionnaire on their websites, which streamlined the process of determining eligibility for potential SNAP users. For example, Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, Feeding Northeast Florida, and Feeding Tampa Bay incorporated this tool directly into their websites to enhance user accessibility.

Several food banks demonstrated unique and creative approaches to SNAP outreach. Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin introduced mini photos of each outreach team member, fostering a more personal connection with the community. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida offered instructional videos to guide individuals through the SNAP application process. In a similar vein, the Greater Chicago Food Depository provided an informative overview of SNAP’s benefits beyond groceries, revealing lesser-known uses of SNAP for services like low-cost internet and museum entry in Illinois.

The report also highlighted the importance of advocacy pages on food bank websites. Among the top 100 food banks of 2022, 65 had dedicated advocacy pages. These pages varied in their content and approach, with some, like the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, featuring videos of community members sharing their experiences of hunger. Tarrant Area Food Bank in Texas distinguished itself with an extensive array of advocacy pages under a single tab, making it easily accessible and informative.

Engagement strategies on these advocacy pages varied widely. Oregon Food Bank utilized surveys to directly engage community members in conversations about ending hunger, while Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin and Houston Food Bank focused on encouraging voting through dedicated webpages. Manna Food Bank in North Carolina produced a video, available on its website, emphasizing the significance of voting in addressing hunger issues.

Calls to action were a common feature across many of these advocacy pages. For instance, River Bend Food Bank in Iowa offered a comprehensive advocacy toolkit, including webinars and templates for letters to editors or congresspeople. Feeding Tampa Bay stood out with its extensive social media toolkit, encouraging community members to share their advocacy efforts online.

Despite these efforts, only 49 of the top 100 food banks explicitly stated their specific policy priorities on their advocacy pages. Tarrant Area Food Bank backed its broad set of policy priorities with detailed fact sheets, while Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank included tax policies alongside its federal, state, and local initiatives. Food Lifeline was notable for soliciting and displaying local candidates’ viewpoints on hunger-related issues, elevating the conversation and informing the public about candidates’ stances.

For a more detailed analysis of the food banks on the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll, as well as insights into the advocacy strategies employed by these organizations, the full report “2023 Advocacy Honor Roll” by Food Bank News provides an in-depth look at these exemplary initiatives in digital advocacy by food banks.