@article{0328ab2f771d45b18bbee55156bece2c,
title = "Impact of changes in the frequency of food pantry utilization on client food security and well-being",
abstract = "Food pantries have traditionally focused on meeting emergency food needs. However, for many clients, food assistance is a long-term need. The frequency with which long-term clients visit food pantries varies; and in general, visiting frequency has been understudied because the focus has largely been on emergency, rather than long-term, food assistance impacts. We leveraged a program innovation to identify the impact of visiting frequency on client outcomes. Using fixed-effect models, we analyzed a panel of 1663 long-term food pantry users observed monthly from 2017 to 2019. Within-client increases in visiting frequency were associated with within-in client improvements in food security and health.",
keywords = "food assistance, food insecurity, low-income population",
author = "Tammy Leonard and David Andrews and Pruitt, {Sandi L.}",
note = "Funding Information: Our results indicate that when households have visited the food pantry less frequently in the recent past, their food insecurity status and self‐rated health are worse. This finding is important for considering the purpose and context related to food pantries. Historically, food pantries have been considered a provider of emergency food assistance. In fact, the majority of high‐capacity food pantries in the United States receive some financial support from the USDA under TEFAP. Clients receiving services from these pantries must sign a TEFAP form annually, with “Emergency Food Assistance” clearly displayed in the title. When clients receive food assistance one month and then skip the following month, some might assume that this is because the food assistance has fulfilled its intended mission and that the household who did not show up to receive food is no longer in need of emergency assistance. Our results suggest that this line of thinking may actually impede the effectiveness of food assistance. If the mission of food assistance is to reduce food insecurity, then programs that encourage consistent longer term use of food pantries are important. Program modifications such as asking for clients to pre‐commit to monthly attendance upon program enrollment may help to increase visiting frequency. Funding Information: This work was supported by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evidence for Action Grant (73436) and the organizational support of the Community Assistance Research (CARE) partnership: https://www.udallas.edu/care/ . The authors wish to thank Lisa Quirk as well as the clients, staff, and volunteers of Crossroads Community Services and their associated Community Distribution Partner network, especially Katie Peters and Jesse Kramer. 1 Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association.",
year = "2021",
doi = "10.1002/aepp.13166",
language = "English (US)",
journal = "Review of Agricultural Economics",
issn = "2040-5790",
publisher = "Oxford University Press",
}