Food Bank Research Articles

Food insecurity is a pervasive public health issue in the United States. While food pantries attempt to alleviate this issue, their effectiveness is limited by structural and logistical barriers that affect service accessibility. Transportation is a frequently underexamined barrier for individuals trying to access food aid. The purpose of this study is to assess the interplay of client- and pantry-level characteristics and their influence on food aid accessibility across several transportation modalities. This cross-sectional survey study collected data from 430 food pantry clients concerning their demographics, transportation methods, and perceptions of transportation barriers. Pantry characteristics were also collected focusing on transportation infrastructure and operational policies. Individual and grouped comparisons were made between transportation methods in relation to pantry visitation, with those walking, biking, and taking a bus to the pantry grouped to compare to those taking a car. Higher food insecurity score, smaller household size, single relationship status, and race were independently associated with increased odds of walking, biking, or taking a bus to the pantry. Having closer bus stops, more bus lines, and no monthly use limits were independently associated with increased odds of walking, biking, or taking a bus to the pantry. Several characteristics were associated with specific transportation modalities when accessing food aid. Our results are particularly concerning given the increased food insecurity and additional vulnerabilities seen in those who walk, bike, or take the bus to the pantry. Transportation disadvantage may be ameliorated by less restrictive pantry use policies and more robust public transit.

ABSTRACT This study explored food insecurity in the Bronx using a community-based participatory approach, including 38 interviews with food pantry users, four interviews with social service administrators, and two focus groups with 12 pantry staff and providers in New York City. Using a phenomenological framework, we identified three key themes: (1) negative impact of immigration status on food insecurity, (2) competing financial demands and limited access to social service assistance; and (3) adverse effects on physical and mental health. Findings highlight the relationships between food insecurity and immigration status. The costs of securing legal residency and sending remittances home contributes to the financial strain and poor health outcomes among immigrant communities in the South Bronx. Immigrants faced additional barriers that exacerbated these vulnerabilities, including language barriers and limited access to social services. With rising food costs due to inflation and uncertainties regarding potential cuts to federal food assistance programs, addressing food insecurity in the Bronx has never been more critical. Ensuring equitable food access for all Bronxites requires developing trusted relationships with immigrant communities and strong community partnerships with local social service organizations.

ABSTRACT We adopted a mixed methods approach to explore factors that affected pantry use among food pantry patrons in Cleveland, Ohio, during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, using surveys and semi-structured interviews with 15 food pantry patrons. Data was collected from January to April 2022. Thematic analysis revealed that in addition to job/income loss and increased food prices, limited mobility due to stay-at-home orders and high COVID anxiety were factors that increased pantry reliance. Emergency COVID relief programs, such as Pandemic EBT and increased access to pantry services during the pandemic, were discussed as mitigating mechanisms for the increased food needs.

Bullets, shot, and other projectiles from firearms can fragment inadvertently when they strike a target. The fragmentation process is concerning for hunting, where the projectiles are often lead-based, and the targets are animals that will likely be ingested by people and/or scavenging wildlife. Medical radiography (lab-based polychromatic X-ray imaging instruments routinely used in hospitals and for dental exams) has been the most widespread and accepted method to reveal these fragments within thick, hydrated tissue sections. It is also deployed at some food banks to screen packages of donated game meat for lead contamination in the form of projectile fragments. We present the first synchrotron-based X-ray images of rifle and shotgun wounds in biological tissue from hunted wild game animals, and contrast them against medical radiographs. Micro- and nanoscale fragments, undetectable in medical radiographs, were directly observed within tissue for the first time and conclusively identified as lead using X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies. The mass of just those lead fragments that were below the detection limit of medical radiography was quantified and found to exceed levels set by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for protection of human health.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-20285-2.

Objective Health support is important to promote independent living among individuals experiencing poverty who require welfare support. However, the actual state of the initiative and specific reality of the collaboration partners, within and outside the administration, remain unclear. The participants were welfare offices, which are the main implementers of the public assistance system, and social welfare councils, which are the main implementers of self-reliance consultations and support services for individuals experiencing poverty. This study aimed to clarify whether the health and dietary status of individuals receiving welfare support were checked at the initial interview and whether an assessment sheet was used to evaluate their health and dietary status. We aimed to confirm which organizations collaborate with and outside the government and clarify the content of dietary support.Methods In January 2024, we conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey of 1,250 welfare offices and 612 social welfare councils. We requested information regarding the confirmation of health and dietary status during the initial interview, use of assessment sheets, cooperation with other organizations, and implementation of dietary support.Results Of the welfare offices and social welfare councils, > 50% reported checking "physical condition," "regular visits to the hospital and medication," and "means of transportation" for health status during the initial interview with service recipients. They checked "frequency of eating out" and "meal frequency" for dietary status. Approximately 30% of patients in both groups had undergone medical examinations, and > 50% of the welfare offices did not use assessment sheets. The social welfare councils used assessment sheets but did not have any items to check dietary status. The multidisciplinary cooperation of welfare offices was in cooperation with the administration of health checkups and physicians. Social welfare councils cooperated with various organizations. The average number of cooperative groups was significantly higher among those who provided dietary advice in combination with food provision support, such as food banks. These groups were better informed about children's and community cafeterias than groups that did not provide such support.Conclusion To promote multilayered health and dietary support, assessment sheets could be beneficial for evaluating the health and dietary conditions of individuals requiring support, and cooperation with other organizations, including health professionals, may help create effective support networks.

Evaluation of the feasibility and construct validity of a novel method to measure household fruit and vegetable procurement in low-income community settings.

This scoping review aims to describe the characteristics of nutrition interventions in the charitable food system (CFS), and to map knowledge gaps on the barriers and facilitators to implementing these interventions. Originally an emergency food source, the CFS has become the main food source for the food-insecure population in the United States. Nutrition interventions in this setting have proliferated; however, knowledge of their implementation remained fragmented. A search was conducted on November 22, 2023, in 7 databases (PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, CAB Abstracts, BIOSIS Previews, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus) and 4 gray literature sources (ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, PubAg, Healthy Eating Research Database, and Feeding America). Backward and forward citations of all included studies were screened for relevance. Studies were excluded if they were conducted outside the United States, did not involve the CFS, or did not address implementation. There were no restrictions on research design or publication year. Findings on implementation determinants were summarized based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. A total of 79 studies and 71 distinct interventions were included. Over half of the interventions took place in urban areas. Food banks and pantries were the most common settings. Most interventions were multicomponent, featuring nutrition and health education, behavioral economics, produce prescriptions, food provision, and nutrition policy and guideline modifications. Common implementation barriers were related to limited resources at CFS organizations and intervention participant characteristics. Common facilitators included partnerships and connections, meeting participants' needs, and alignment between the intervention's mission and that of the CFS organizations. Further research is needed to address knowledge gaps in underexplored implementation determinants, such as intervention deliverers' needs, intraorganizational communication, and external pressures. Additionally, there is a need to examine the implementation of nutrition interventions in rural areas and soup kitchens.

To examine how home food inventories and food procurement practices changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional baseline data from a randomised controlled trial of a home food environment intervention. Telephone interviews were conducted from October 2020 to December 2022. Four 2-1-1 United Way agencies in Georgia, USA. 2-1-1 clients (n 602); 80·6 % identified as Black and 90·9 % as women. Mean age was 42·8 (sd = 11·80). The majority were food insecure (73·4 %) and received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (65·8 %). A majority of participants reported smaller inventories of fresh fruits and vegetables (65·1 %) and unhealthy snacks (61·6 %) in the home relative to before COVID-19. The majority (55·8 %) also reported decreased shopping for fruits and vegetables and decreased use of fast food for family meals (56·1 %). Over half (56·2 %) started to use a food pantry, and 44·9 % started ordering groceries online due to COVID-19. A COVID-19 stressors scale was significantly associated with decreased odds of a smaller fresh fruit and vegetable inventory (OR = 0·61, CI 0·51, 0·73) and a smaller unhealthy snack inventory (OR = 0·86, CI 0·74, 0·99). COVID-19 stressors were also associated with changed food procurement practices, including increased online grocery shopping (OR = 1·19, CI 1·03, 1·37), and starting to use a food pantry (OR = 1·31, CI 1·13, 1·51). The pandemic had a significant impact on home food inventories and procurement practices. Understanding how major events such as pandemics affect home food environments may help to stave off negative nutritional outcomes from similar events in the future.

Applying the RE-AIM framework to evaluate a diabetes prevention intervention delivered through a food bank.

Medically Tailored Grocery Delivery for Food Pantry Clients with Diabetes.

Abstract Background Individuals living in socioeconomically deprived areas face persistent barriers to healthy eating, including limited food access, high costs, and reduced availability. Community-based food services (e.g., food banks, community cafés, cooking programmes) aim to mitigate these barriers and improve diet, yet engagement with these services remains inconsistent and often low. This study aimed to identify and understand the factors that affect engagement with community food-related services within areas of multiple deprivation, using a COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation - Behaviour) model survey and qualitative interviews. Methods A mixed-methods design was employed. A COM-B-informed survey (n = 77) assessed how behavioural drivers (capability, opportunity, and motivation) predicted service engagement. Multiple linear regression was used to analyse survey data. In parallel, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants to explore the lived experience of food service users. Interviews were analysed thematically. Results Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that capability (β = 0.438, p = 0.011) and opportunity (β = 0.441, p = 0.012) significantly predicted service engagement, whereas motivation (β = 0.111, p = 0.691) did not. Thematic analysis identified four qualitative themes: (1) gratitude and reliance on services; (2) fairness and equity; (3) dignity and stigmatisation; and (4) a mismatch between provision and need. Conclusions While the survey suggested opportunity and capability are important predictors of service use, qualitative data highlighted the role of motivation, particularly in relation to perceived dignity, fairness, and usefulness of services. Efforts to increase uptake must therefore go beyond structural barriers and meaningfully address users’ values and lived realities. Key messages • Theories from behavioural science can offer valuable, unique insight into factors affecting engagement with food services. • Policy makers should aim to improve access and user capability to improve engagement with food services in deprived areas.

Qualitative Evaluation of Food Pantry Clients' Experience at the Food Distribution Site

Quantitative Evaluation of Food Pantry Clients' Experience at the Food Distribution Site

Screening for Food Insecurity and Development of a Food Pantry in a Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Hospital Based Clinic

Empowering Food Pantries to Support Equitable Nutrition

278 Background: Food insecurity among cancer patients has been correlated with poorer quality of life, mental health, and treatment adherence. Cancer patients in rural settings have greater food insecurity while also having less access to food resources. We describe the implementation of a decentralized Food Is Medicine (FIM) model at Tennessee Oncology (TO), one of the largest physician-owned oncology practices with 37 medical oncology locations throughout middle and eastern Tennessee. Methods: Using baseline Hunger Vital Sign (HVS) data, we selected four rural clinics with high rates of food insecurity. Patients with new cancers, undergoing treatment, and screening positive on the HVS were offered enrollment. The program consisted of delivering monthly 20 item food boxes to patients at their local clinic. The contents, collaboratively selected by Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and TO Registered Dietitians, were designed to provide a significant portion of patients’ nutritional needs for the month. Boxes were couriered to clinics from a medically integrated pharmacy. A HIPAA-compliant tracking board ensured consistent delivery and receipt. Medical assistants at pilot and control clinics received education about promoting food insecurity screening. Results: From 8/1/2024 – 5/1/2025, the pilot identified 24 eligible patients of which 22 remained enrolled (91.6%). Five patients became ineligible due to enrolling in hospice or passing away. In pilot clinics, HVS screening increased by 22% compared to 4% in control clinics. 102 of 108 boxes (94.4%) were received by patients. Hospitalization was the main reason for not receiving a box. Twelve randomly selected patients were contacted to provide feedback. All wished to remain in the program and see it expanded. Team members provided feedback that the program was easy to execute and did not detract from other duties. The program cost per patient was $17.30/month. Conclusions: Our FIM pilot demonstrated high patient enrollment, retention, satisfaction, process efficiency, and low cost. Future work will include scaling through clinic expansion, improving screening processes, collecting and reporting impact on food insecurity and cancer outcomes, and identifying sustained funding opportunities through foundations, navigation billing, and medical meals.

A food upcycling model by food bank collection-distribution networks

Does a short journey get me to the food bank? An empirical study on fare-based public transport accessibility and its implications for social equity

Albertsons awards $3 million for Texas food bank initiative.

Food and fuel insecurity have been rising in Scotland since 2021, yet very little exists on the dual burden of these poverties. This study, by way of a qualitative interpretative health policy analysis, seeks to better understand the policies and programmes available to mitigate food and fuel insecurity and the associated health burdens in Scotland. Thirty semi-structured key informant interviews were undertaken between April and December 2023 with policy experts in these fields. Interviews were transcribed, abductively coded, analysed, and triangulated with academic, policy and grey literature to compare and contrast policy responses. Given the importance of income when discussing multidimensional poverty, it is unsurprising that a major intervention towards ending food and fuel insecurity is the benefit system at large, which was overall described as insufficient and poorly organised. A cash first approach has been identified as paramount to address food insecurity and take over the ever-growing charity efforts (food bank larders, cooked meals, etc), which are largely considered “sticking plasters” by stakeholders. Fuel insecurity has been increasingly modelling food insecurity tactics - growing charity sector led approach such as introducing fuel banks and warm spaces. While these efforts are often similarly described as “sticking plasters,” many experts report that given the complexity of the issue - poor housing stock, unfair payment systems, lack of trained personnel, and market mis-regulation - increased income alone is insufficient to tackle fuel insecurity, stressing the need for a multidimensional approach to poverty. The health system, while increasingly burdened by both dimensions, was described as having little bandwidth for prevention and saw the role instead up to government and charities. Working with health systems may, however, help to identify those most impacted by food and fuel insecurity such as people with kidney failure.