Food Pantry Nutrition Project

Bill McKelveyDepartment of Rural Sociology

Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security

Project Overview

• 2-year project• Initiated in March 2011• Involves eight (8) food pantries• Food Bank for Central and NE MO service area• Food Systems approach to improving nutrition

in food pantries– Access– Distribution– Consumption

Project Overview

• Research and Evaluation– Semi-controlled comparisons– Impact on pantry capacity and nutrition awareness

• Best practices • Part of a larger research project– Food pantry client interviews (2005, 2010, 2013)– Food pantry director interviews (2010, 2013)– 24 hour recalls, food basket inventories, health

questionnaires

Demand for Food Pantry Services

• 2010: 66,745 people served every month through 77 food pantries

• 2011: 72,436 people service every month through 78 food pantries

• 8.5% increase from 2010 to 2011

(M. Moody, Agency Relations, The Food Bank, personal communication, March 6)

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Access in Pantries

• Only 15.4% of pantries distribute fresh fruit every month

• Only 23.1% of pantries distribute fresh vegetables every month

• Many pantries lack appropriate refrigeration– Only 50% are satisfied with their refrigeration– 70% are satisfied with their freezer capacity

• Pantry operating hours also pose a challenge

(Jensen et al., 2011)

Tailored Recipes and TipsRapid Recipe Response

• Based on in-stock pantry foods• Communication is KEY!• USDA SNAP Ed Recipe Finder• Challenges:– Communication/Timing/Logistics– Printing– Available foods

• Train the Trainer

Food Tastings

Seeds that Feed

Other Project Activities

• Healthy Food Drives• Local Produce

Donations– Farmers Market– Donation Station– Home Gardeners– Gleaning– Prison Garden

• Community Gardening• Permanent Info Display• SNAP Outreach • SNAP at Farmers

Markets

Cultivating Partnerships

• University of Missouri Extension– Family Nutrition Education Program– Master Gardeners

• Missouri Food Bank Association– SNAP Outreach and Local purchasing

• Society of St. Andrew– Gleaning

• Culver Stockton College (Canton)– Food Drives and Community Garden

References

• Jensen, J., Heflin, C., Hermsen, J., Rikoon, S. (2011). Feeding the Hungry: Results from a Survey of Food Pantry Directors in Mid-Missouri (Report 10-2011). Columbia: University of Missouri, Institute of Public Policy.