"Emergency" food is no longer just for emergencies

Feeding America has just released new research, Food Banks: Hunger’s New Staple, which found that emergency food pantries are fast becoming a regular component of households’ long term strategies to supplement monthly shortfalls in food.

As economic times change, so does the use of food banks and their agencies. What was once an “emergency” network that was created to help make sure that people had access to food during an emergency has turned into a network that is seeing more “regular” use to help people fill the gap.

Highlights of the study:

• Emergency vs. Long-Term Strategy:  Emergency food from pantries is no longer being used simply to meet temporary acute food needs. A majority of our clients (54%) have visited a food pantry for at least six months or more during the past year. This creates further strain on the network, as an increasing number of new clients join those needing long-term support.
   
• Seniors: We find that seniors are disproportionately represented as frequent or recurrent users –one out of three recurrent Feeding America clients are age 60 or older.  Among the elderly, more than half (56%) are long term recurrent pantry users, suggesting that the fixed incomes of elderly may be insufficient to provide for basic needs.
   
• Snap Users: Among clients currently receiving SNAP benefits, more than half (58%) are recurrent or frequent users. The findings also emphasize the critical role that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) plays in alleviating hunger, but that those benefits do not go far enough.

The Feeding America network has become a staple food source for far too many people and families who are still struggling to make ends meet during tough economic times. The findings of Food Banks: Hunger’s New Staple sheds light on the urgent need for strong federal nutrition programs to protect American families as they continue to struggle through the recession.

With the “Super Committee” set to meet in Washington to talk about cuts and deficit reductions, it’s particularly important to point out the devastating impact any adverse changes to SNAP, and other nutrition programs, would have for many working families.