What is St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance?
{{Infobox organization | name = St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance | image = NEWsmfba_logo4c_300x150.png | image_border = | image_size = 300 | caption = | map = | msize = | mcaption = | abbreviation = | motto = | formation = {{start date|1967}} | extinction = | type = [[Nonprofit organization|Nonprofit 501(c)(3)]] | status = | purpose = [[Hunger in the United States|Hunger relief]]<br>[[Food security]] | headquarters = 2831 N. 31st Avenue | coords = | region_served = United States | membership = | language = | main_organ = | parent_organization = | affiliations = [[Feeding America]] | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | budget = | website = https://www.firstfoodbank.org/ | remarks = }} '''St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance''' is a [[Non-profit organization|nonprofit]], [[Sectarianism|nonsectarian]] organization in [[Phoenix, Arizona]]. It was founded in 1967 by [[John van Hengel]]. St. Mary's was the first modern organization to operate using the [[food bank]] model. This spread throughout the [[United States of America|U.S]] and the rest of the world. Today, St. Mary's is known as the world's first food bank.<ref>https://www.feedingknowledge.net/02-search?p_p_id=1_WAR_feeding_knowledgeportlet&p_p_lifecycle=2&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_cacheability=cacheLevelPage&_1_WAR_feeding_knowledgeportlet_cmd=serveAttachment&_1_WAR_feeding_knowledgeportlet_stepAttachmentId=9107&_1_WAR_feeding_knowledgeportlet_callId=6204&_1_WAR_feeding_knowledgeportlet_mvcPath=%2Fcalls%2Fview_all_steps.jsp&_1_WAR_feeding_knowledgeportlet_languageId=en_GB{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> ==Operation== Since its creation, St. Mary's has expanded its operations to 9 of Arizona's 15 [[List of counties in Arizona|counties]].<ref>https://www.firstfoodbank.org/</ref> They have given millions of pounds of food each year. ==Pantry== St. Mary's also operates its own food pantry. It allows people to get food directly from the warehouse. ==Programs== St. Mary's is a member of [[Feedi