They perform a form of franchise activism, which refers to the actions of groups of people or individuals from different places, but under the same banner, with the same standards (Oxford Dictionary). Similar to other social movements, Food Not Bombs do not benefit from sponsors; they are rather self-supporting in matters of finances, but with substantial help from the outside food-chain suppliers in matters of provisions. These are represented by markets, grocery stores, bakeries and other such shops, which serve food-related products. The movement's followers receive the surplus of food which otherwise would be wasted, and cook it for the people in need, for they believe that "food is a right, not a privilege" (The Food Not Bombs Movement).
The social movement took form in 1980, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a protest form against homeless discrimination, nuclear power and the Salvadoran Civil War. The movement's protest consisted of marching and food providing (McHenry, 2012: 97). They are an organization supported only by volunteers, therefore their costs are cut out by not having to pay any wages. Another dimension of an all-volunteer movement is their commitment. Since they are not driven by the money, but by their passion for change, the impact is stronger and so are their followers. For more than 30 years this movement has been working intensively to put an end to hunger and has supported various actions in order to stop the movements' limitations imposed by the authorities, to end the destruction and exploitation of the earth, from nature to animals and human beings. .
Food Not Bombs' creed is based on the idea that the government should focus more on meeting the people's need for basic food, health and accommodation rather than allocating their resources on war. Therefore, they fight to not only feed the people but also to uncover the misplaced priorities of a corrupt system which provides more wealth for the powerful ones and mistreats the others by failing to provide the same for them.