Food $ense Buyers Club
If you eat, you qualify.
Food Sense Order Form.pdfThis program is a food buying opportunity that provides quality food for less than retail prices through the Food Bank of Central New York. Food $ense is designed to increase self-sufficiency by helping people stretch their food dollars. The Food Bank is able to purchase food items in large quantities at discounted prices, and this savings is passed on to the program’s customers.
The Food Bank operates this service with 36 sites in a 14 county area. It works like a buying club with volume purchases, so there are no income requirements or questions. Since it is not a subsidized program, everyone may participate. This program has been very successful in many locations around central New York. The Foothills Rural Community Ministry has been running a Food $ense program since November 2008.
Please Note: Pickup times have changed. They are now 11:00 am-1:00 pm or by appointment.
Each package costs $20.50, payable in cash or food stamps. Food packages contain 12-15 items including meat, fruits, vegetables, and grocery staples, with a value of over $40. The items will generally provide 2-3 meals for the average family of 4. The specific items in each month’s package will be published when they are available.
There are no income restrictions; anyone wishing to stretch their food dollars can participate.
Participants pre-pay with cash, EBT card or Venmo, and they pick up their Food $ense packages near the end of the month. See the calendar published here for exact dates.
There are also specials available each month in addition to or instead of the basic package.
Families may order multiple packages and/or specials. Each month, customers choose whether or not they want to order. There is no need to purchase every month.
Pick up is on Friday afternoons or by appointment. Email FoothillsFoodSense@gmail.com to make an appointment if you can't pick up your order during the standard Friday hours. You can send someone else to pick your order up if they give us your name.
If an emergency arises, please call and we will try to make other arrangements for your pickup. 315-865-5854 and leave a message.
Food that is not picked up will be donated to the Foothills Food Pantry.
For more information leave a message at the Foothills office 315-865-5854 or email us at FoothillsFoodSense@gmail.com
or click here to learn more at the Food Bank of Central NY website.