1. The Power of Statistics and Why We Need Them

2. Agenda Learning about your data efforts
Current statistics about food insecurity
How to choose, collect, and share data
Real examples from food banks and agencies across the country
Questions, ideas, and builds

3. 1
Learning about your data efforts

4. How does your agency currently collect data?
Paper transcribed to computer
Only electronic
Only paper

5. What types of data are you collecting?
Basic name and age
Address or housing type
Food preferences
Health status or conditions
Education or student status
Employment status

6. What do you do with the data collected?
Share it with media
Nothing!
Share it back with clients
Provide it to the food bank
Share it with volunteers
Provide it to donors

7. Current statistics about food insecurity2

8. 42M
U.S. INDIVIDUALS
ARE FOOD INSECURE

9. CHILDREN ARE FOOD INSECURE
13 Million
CHILDREN ARE FOOD INSECURE

10. SENIORS ARE FOOD INSECURE
5.4 Million
SENIORS ARE FOOD INSECURE

11. Prevalence of Food Insecurity Remains High in 2016 National rate of food insecurity among individuals
Great
Recession
Source: Household Food Security in the United States in 2016 (USDA ERS)

12. Local variations in food insecurity are significant
map.feedingamerica.org

13. That’s why having your own data is so important!
360,540
IOWANS ARE FOOD INSECURE

14. 3
How to choose, collect, and share data

15. Identifying what questions to ask clients
What services does your agency currently offer? Where can you feasibly take action and improve services?
Do you have local donors (food or funds) like local grocery stores, city government, church, individuals that request data or reports?
Does your agency have a strategic plan or organizational goals? Engage your stakeholders (e.g., food bank, agency board, agency staff) to collectively discuss what questions are important to ask
Ask questions that are actionable. Don’t place additional burden on clients by asking questions that are interesting, but not actionable

16. Choosing the right methods to collect data based on your needs
Do you need individual-level information to connect someone with assistance or tailor their distribution?
Examples: Enrolling in SNAP
Identifying dietary considerations
Referrals to other organizations
Do you need honest feedback information to help identify changes?
Example: Anonymous surveys that don’t ask for name
Do you want to create a dialogue or two-way communication?
Example: Focus groups, community meetings after the distribution, or data walks to learn more

17. What to do with the data once it’s in the door
Order and offer different product based on health or dietary considerations
Provide materials in clients’ languages
Tailor Food and Service Delivery
Fundraise and Write Grants
Illustrate reach of program
Describe participants and experience, outcomes
Connect People with Services
Assess clients’ eligibility or interest in other programs (e.g., SNAP, tax prep assistance, healthcare, etc.)
Advocate for Public Policies
Demonstrate need and service of specific programs
Identify policy improvements
Build Community Support & Empathy
Bust myths and boost public perception
Increase visibility and support for your agency

18. No matter how data is shared, always remember to respect the privacy and the dignity of the people from whom it was collected
Don’t share personal information (like names, their address or date of birth) unless clients have given you permission
Also make sure the receiving organization takes care of this data
Using a basic privacy agreement or consent form can go a long way to explain why the data is collected and how it will be used
By sharing back out aggregate findings with clients, you can build trust and demonstrate how it is being used and confirm that individual information is not being shared inappropriately

19. Overcoming resource constraints to find data and messaging that works
Work with a skilled volunteer or intern to collect data
Reach out to colleges and universities
Involve corporate volunteer groups
Train one person who already has intake experience
Download data and printouts from Feeding America
Map the Meal Gap
Access publicly-available data
American Fact Finder (U.S. Census Bureau)
Share poverty statistics for your county
Iowa Department of Public Health

20. Real examples from food banks and agencies across the country4

21. Real Example from Oregon
A school pantry program was struggling to keep its funding and the program manager’s position was going to be cut.
Staff wrote the school district superintendent to advocate for the pantry. They used data from their new technology system to tell a deeper story about the clients being served:
The pantry also served families from 14 other schools
Over half of families have someone working full or part-time
These additional reporting abilities helped show the importance of the pantry and the value of the program manager’s position.

22. Real Example from Oak Park, MI
An agency learned that 90% of the households they served had a member with diabetes, prompting them to significantly adjust the nutritional quality of food boxes.
Children’s programs began using actual, instead of projected attendance to inform menu planning and food procurement and successfully reduced food waste.
Agencies are learning about additional languages spoken by the families they serve. As a result, they are now creating unique, translated resources based on this information.
Real Example from Houston, TX
Real Example from Oregon

23. CONTACT Brittany Morgan Research Team 312.641.5676

24. THANK YOU
Questions, ideas, and builds?