Food Pantry Nutrition Project Bill McKelvey Department 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 Tips Rapid 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 ). Columbia: University of Missouri, Institute of Public Policy.