A comparison of current food bank users, non-users and past users in a population of low income single mothers

Abstract

This exploratory study was undertaken to determine which, if any, characteristics or food management behaviors differ between low income families that do or do not use a food bank for emergency food assistance. Seventy-three low income single mothers with young children were recruited through a door-to-door census and agreed to participate in a one-hour structured interview. Thirty-seven subjects were current users, 20 were non-users, and 16 were past users of the local food bank. Average income for all families was 81% of the 1989 federal poverty threshold for a family of three. Results demonstrated that current users, compared with non-users: 1) had larger households with older children; 2) purchased food more frequently in general and at a convenience store in particular; 3) were more likely to walk or take public transportation to the grocery store; 4) were less able to buy enough food with available resources; and 5) skipped meals (mothers and children) more often as a result of no food in the home. Past users were more likely to be divorced and more likely to be in school than current users. Past users were also more stigmatized by assistance program participation than current users. All three groups would turn to family first for emergency food assistance. More research is warranted, especially in the areas of: 1) frequency of food shopping and choice of shopping location related to purchase of adequate food supplies; 2) ages and number of children in the household and their effect on food security; and 3) longitudinal studies on the potential of future food bank use by non- and past users.