Feeding people well.
When it comes to nutrition, seafood packs a punch, but is a rare commodity in food banks. SeaShare is the only nonprofit dedicated to filling this essential need.
Over 50 million Americans have limited access to nutrient-dense food. The simple fact is that healthy food is expensive. Low-income seniors, families, and individuals are forced to make decisions as to how to get by with what little they have. Often that means skipping meals or buying cheap, unhealthy calories. Many neighborhoods lack basic access to markets and grocery stores that have fresh produce, meat, and fish. Thankfully, the nation's wide network of food banks is working to keep people well fed.
SeaShare exists to help those food banks. As they focus on better nutrition and providing well-balanced meals, the demand for protein, especially seafood, is growing. SeaShare fulfills this vital need by getting one of the most high-valued and costly protein sources into food banks, pantries, and shelters across America.
SeaShare's mission is to engage the seafood industry in a collective effort to improve nutrition for the people served by food banks and feeding centers.
Access to quality food is limited
Those struggling with food insecurity face the burden of not only getting enough to eat, but also accessing nutrient-rich foods that promote good health and help reduce risk of chronic disease.
Healthy protein is expensive
Feeding America’s Hunger in America Study revealed 79% of households dealing with food insecurity purchased inexpensive, unhealthy food as a coping strategy.
A scarce resource in food banks
Of the 4 billion pounds of food distributed through the Feeding America network less than 2% is nutrient-dense, animal based protein and seafood only makes up a fraction of that.
Omega-3 heart and brain food
Lack of Omega 3 fatty acids contribute to cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammatory disorders, and mental and emotional problems. Fish is, indeed, a brain food.
A complete protein source
Seafood contains a high-quality protein that includes all of the essential amino acids for human health, making it a complete protein source. a 3 ounce serving provides a third of the recommended daily intake.
From sea to table.
SeaShare distributes high-quality, first-run seafood that, instead of being sold in a market or restaurant, is distributed to food banks nationwide.
SeaShare works with a large community of fishermen, processors, logistics and distribution partners who want to do their part to help struggling families and individuals. Donations include a wide variety of species, such as salmon, Alaska pollock, pacific white shrimp, rockfish, halibut, catfish, and tilapia.
It takes a community.
Donors range in size from small, independent fishermen to large-scale harvesting and processing vessels. These fishermen work with other processors, importers, distributors, and cold-storage warehouses, all of whom donate their services to SeaShare to get this highly perishable, nutritious product to food banks across the country.
Captain, Ocean Rover
Executive Director, SeaShare
Captain, F/V Walter N
Captain, F/V Topaz
Cold Storage Manager, Kloosterboer
Executive Director, Alaska Groundfish Data Bank
President, UniSea
Factory Manager, Ocean Rover, American Seafoods
Silver Bay Seafoods, Chief Sales Officer
Senior VP of Food Acquisition and Supply Chain, Greater Boston Food Bank
Former Board Member, SeaShare
Sr. Manager, Nutrition Education, San Francisco - Marin Food Bank
Alternate Facility Manager, Offshore Systems, Inc.
Director, Brother Francis Shelter
Plant Manager, Alaska Pacific Seafoods
Over the past 28 years, SeaShare has delivered more than 250 million seafood servings to food banks and feeding centers.
With your help we can do so much more. While we receive generous contributions of seafood and services from our partners, we can’t get 100% of the costs covered for shipping, storage, and preparing the fish into family size portions. Your donation today will contribute directly to that effort.