1 food banking in the deep south: profiles of clients and directors patricia a. duffy marina...

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Food Banking in the Deep South: Food Banking in the Deep South: Profiles of Clients and DirectorsProfiles of Clients and Directors

Patricia A. DuffyPatricia A. DuffyMarina Irimia-Vladu Marina Irimia-Vladu

Joseph J. MolnarJoseph J. MolnarAuburn UniversityAuburn University

Suzie Cashwell, Western Kentucky UniversitySuzie Cashwell, Western Kentucky UniversityJohn Bartkowski, Mississippi State UniversityJohn Bartkowski, Mississippi State University

22Source: St. Cecelia Catholic Church, Iselin, New Jersey

33

Source: New Path Outreach, Tipp City, OH

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Study ObjectivesStudy Objectives

Profile of Food Pantry Directors, Alabama Profile of Food Pantry Directors, Alabama and Mississippiand Mississippi

Profile of Food Pantry Clients, East Profile of Food Pantry Clients, East Alabama areaAlabama area

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Some Questions of InterestSome Questions of Interest

Do food pantry clients feel stigmatized by Do food pantry clients feel stigmatized by use of food pantry?use of food pantry?

Why are people using food pantries?Why are people using food pantries? Are food pantries a short-term or a long-Are food pantries a short-term or a long-

term form of aid?term form of aid? Are directors sympathetic or judgmental?Are directors sympathetic or judgmental? Are food pantries preferred to food stamps Are food pantries preferred to food stamps

by the people who use them?by the people who use them?

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Data SourcesData Sources

2002 mail survey sent to 500 food pantry 2002 mail survey sent to 500 food pantry directors in Alabama and Mississippi. directors in Alabama and Mississippi. From each state 250 food pantries were From each state 250 food pantries were randomly selected. 235 usable surveys randomly selected. 235 usable surveys returned, 50 undeliverable.returned, 50 undeliverable.

1999 face to face interviews with food 1999 face to face interviews with food pantry clients in East Alabama. 10 clients pantry clients in East Alabama. 10 clients from each of 6 metro-area and 6 non-from each of 6 metro-area and 6 non-metro area pantries selected. 96 metro area pantries selected. 96 completed surveys. completed surveys.

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Director Profile QuestionsDirector Profile Questions

Are they secular or religious in nature? Are they secular or religious in nature? What types of local community agencies What types of local community agencies

are affiliated with food banks in the are affiliated with food banks in the Alabama-Mississippi area? Alabama-Mississippi area?

What are their organizational What are their organizational characteristics and what populations do characteristics and what populations do they serve? they serve?

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What types of people lead such What types of people lead such agencies?agencies?

Are food agency directors predominantly Are food agency directors predominantly white or African American, male or white or African American, male or female?female?

How educated are they? How educated are they? What is their household income?What is their household income?

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What social welfare attitudes are What social welfare attitudes are manifested by food agency directors? manifested by food agency directors?

What do pantry directors think about What do pantry directors think about their clients?their clients?

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Pantry ProfilesPantry Profiles

75% church sponsored or 75% church sponsored or

religious-linked organizationsreligious-linked organizations

1111

Service AreaService Area

63%15%

22%

Rural

Mid-Sized

MSA

1212

Director ProfilesDirector Profiles

64% female64% female36% male36% male

1313

Director ProfilesDirector Profiles63% Caucasian63% Caucasian37% African American37% African American

1414


EDUCATION

21%

35%

44%High School orlessSome College

College Grad

1515


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Never Occasionally A few times a month Once per week ormore

CHURCH ATTENDANCE

1616


31%

42%

27%

Below $30,000

$30,000-$60,000

Above $60,000

Household Income

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Photo Source: Montgomery Area Food Bank

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Director Profiles—Attitudes Director Profiles—Attitudes

Directors were asked a series of questions Directors were asked a series of questions dealing with their attitudes about poverty in dealing with their attitudes about poverty in general and food pantry clients in general and food pantry clients in particular.particular.

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Directors’ Attitudes about Poverty.

Strongly Agree

Agree Unsure Disagree Strongly Disagree

No Response

pct pct pct pct pct pct

3 12 14 42 25 4

4 20 15 44 15 3

3 23 9 42 20 3

2 9 6 41 40 2

8 19 24 35 12 2

N=235

5 Generally speaking, we are spending too little money on welfare.

3 Poverty is caused by lack of ability and talent among poor people.

4 Poverty is caused by loose morals and drunkenness.

1 Poverty is caused by prejudice and discrimination against minority and individuals

2 Poverty is caused by the failure of society to provide good schools for many Americans

2020

Directors’ Attitudes About Food Pantry UseStrongly Agree

Agree Unsure Disagree Strongly Disagree

No Response

pct pct pct pct pct pct

12 21 17 37 12 2

12 37 18 28 3 3

9 43 11 29 6 2

0 18 17 45 16 4

9 51 18 18 3 3

12 55 12 15 2 5

N=235

3 Food pantry use is often caused by the sickness and physical handicaps of poor people.

4 People who use food pantries are just having bad luck.

5 Most people who use food pantries and who are able to work are trying to find jobs.

6 Food pantry use is caused by low wages in some businesses and industries.

There are too many people using food pantries that should be working.

2 Many people getting food are not honest about their needs.

1

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OverviewOverview

The typical food pantry director isa well-educated white woman witha medium household income. Shedoes not have strong opinions aboutthe causes of poverty, does not thinkwe spend too little on welfare, and may harbor some suspicions about the honesty of some clients.

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Food Pantry ClientsFood Pantry Clients

Who are they?Who are they? Why do they use a pantry?Why do they use a pantry? Are they satisfied with pantry services?Are they satisfied with pantry services? What government programs do they use?What government programs do they use? What hardships do they face?What hardships do they face? Are rural and metro-area clients different?Are rural and metro-area clients different?

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The Study AreaThe Study Area

Agencies of the East Alabama Food Bank are found in Lee, Macon, Chambers, Tallapoosa, Bullock, Randolph, and Russell Counties, with the greatest concentration of member agencies in Lee County. The urbanized portion of Lee County, where the East Alabama Food Bank is located, has two neighboring cities (Auburn and Opelika) with combined populations of over 50 thousand people. Ten out of twelve pantries were associated with churches or religious groups.

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InterviewsInterviewsSix metro area (Auburn-Opelika) and sixnon-metro area pantries were selected via probability in proportion to size.We selected 10 clients from each agencyfor face to face interviews. We were ableto complete 96 interviews. The remainder were no-shows or refusals. Most interviewswere conducted at the pantry site.

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Differences in ClientsDifferences in Clients

Very few responses were statistically different across metro, non-metro clients. In the paper, responses for each sub-group are reported, as well as the overall response pattern.

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East Alabama Clients Are:East Alabama Clients Are:

Women (89%)Women (89%) Poor (85% have family incomes below Poor (85% have family incomes below

$20,000)$20,000) Of diverse agesOf diverse ages Often poorly educated (43% did not finish Often poorly educated (43% did not finish

high school)high school) Frequently African American (61%)Frequently African American (61%) Likely to be single parents (59%)Likely to be single parents (59%)

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37% of directors reported being African American, compared to 61% of EAFB clients interviewed.

Photo Source: America's Second Harvest

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Employment CharacteristicsEmployment Characteristics

35 % disabled35 % disabled 8% retired8% retired 19% working full-time19% working full-time 8% working part time8% working part time 13% homemakers13% homemakers 14% unemployed14% unemployed 2% students2% students

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HardshipsHardshipspct

Sometimes 32Often 6Never 62



Within the past 12 months have you had to choose between paying rent or mortgage and buying food?

Within the past 12 months, have you had to choose between paying for medicine and buying food?

Within the past 12 months, have you had to choose between paying for utilities and buying food?

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Food HardshipsFood Hardships

pct

Never true 31Sometimes true 58Often true 11

Never 21Sometimes 45Often 34

Yes 25

Yes, but not always the kinds we want 55Sometimes not enough 14Often not enough 6

I worried whether food would run out before I got money to buy more.

Do you have enough of the kinds of food you want to eat?

Do you ever run out of money to purchase food?

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Food HardshipsFood HardshipsIn the last 12 months: pct





Never 89Sometimes 11

Never 98Sometimes 2

Never 100

Did your child/children ever not eat for a whole day because there wasn’t enough money for food?

Did you ever cut the size of the children’s meals because there wasn’t enough money for food?

Did any of the children ever skip a meal because there wasn’t enough money for food?

Did you ever send your child to someone’s home for a meal because you were out of food?

Did you ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals because there wasn’t enough money for food?

Did you not eat for a whole day because there wasn’t enough money for food?

Did you ever go to someone’s home for a meal because you were out of food?

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Government ProgramsGovernment Programspct

Food Stamps 35

TANF 4

Free or reduced-cost meals for the elderly 6

Reduced-cost meals at school 41 Free or reduced-cost food at a day care or Head Start program 8

Food through the WIC program 20

SSI benefits 43

Medicare 32

Medicaid 47

3333

Food StampsFood Stamps

Only 35% of respondents used foodstamps. Follow-up questions exploredwhy 65% of respondents did not usestamps. We also asked food stamprecipients about their stamps.

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Exploring Non-Use of StampsExploring Non-Use of Stamps

11 respondents had stamps stopped in 11 respondents had stamps stopped in previous year; 4 had income increases, 1 previous year; 4 had income increases, 1 chose to stop, the rest gave no reason.chose to stop, the rest gave no reason.

21 respondents had applied for stamps; 21 respondents had applied for stamps; half had been rejected, the rest were half had been rejected, the rest were waiting to hear.waiting to hear.

A few respondents reported that applying A few respondents reported that applying for stamps was not worth the trouble.for stamps was not worth the trouble.

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Experiences with StampsExperiences with Stamps

19 of the 33 food stamp recipients had 19 of the 33 food stamp recipients had used stamps for more than 2 years.used stamps for more than 2 years.

About half received less than $100 per About half received less than $100 per month.month.

Most said the food stamps did not last all Most said the food stamps did not last all month.month.

17 of the 33 reported having their benefits 17 of the 33 reported having their benefits cut in previous year (1998-1999).cut in previous year (1998-1999).

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Food Pantry UseFood Pantry Usepct

Weekly 19Monthly 33Less Often 16Not told 19Other 13

Once a week 9Once a month 27Every now and then 64

Less than 1 month 71-3 months 164-6 months 127-9 months 410-12 months 17More than 12 months 44

Yes 57I hope not 23No 20

Yes 27No 73

Have you received food from more than one food pantry in the last 12 months?

How often can you receive food at the pantry?

How often do you get food from the food pantry?

How long have you been receiving food (or food assistance) from this food pantry?

Do you think you will have to come to this pantry to get food three months from now?

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Food Pantry SatisfactionFood Pantry Satisfactionpct

Very satisfied 48Satisfied 35Somewhat satisfied 14Dissatisfied 2Very dissatisfied 1



How satisfied are you with the quality of food provided by the food pantry?

How satisfied are you with the amount of food provided by the food pantry?

How satisfied are you with the variety of food that is available to you?

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Food Pantry SatisfactionFood Pantry Satisfaction

Sometimes 22Always 5Other 3Never 70

Some of the time 1Most of the time 4All of the time 95

Strongly agree 1Agree 5Undecided 6Disagree 54Strongly disagree 34

Food Stamps 59Food Pantry 41

If you could get as much food at a food pantry as you get with food stamps, would you prefer to use the food pantry?

When you come to the pantry, are you treated with respect?

I feel like I am being judged because of my situation every time I go to the food pantry.

Is it hard for you to find transportation to get to the site?

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Significant Metro/Non-Metro Significant Metro/Non-Metro DifferencesDifferences

About the same percentage (28%) of metro About the same percentage (28%) of metro and non-metro respondents work for wages, and non-metro respondents work for wages, but the non-metro respondents are more but the non-metro respondents are more likely to work full time.likely to work full time.

Non-metro respondents were more likely to Non-metro respondents were more likely to get SSI (52% versus 34%).get SSI (52% versus 34%).

Non-metro respondents report being able to Non-metro respondents report being able to get food at the pantry more often.get food at the pantry more often.

Metro area respondents more likely to run Metro area respondents more likely to run out of foodout of food..

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Significant Metro/Non-Metro Significant Metro/Non-Metro DifferencesDifferences

Non-metro respondents more likely to have Non-metro respondents more likely to have used pantry more than one-year (61% versus used pantry more than one-year (61% versus 28%).28%).

Non-metro area has larger group of older Non-metro area has larger group of older clients.clients.

Non-metro respondents more likely to Non-metro respondents more likely to “strongly disagree” that they feel judged.“strongly disagree” that they feel judged.

Non-metro respondents would prefer food Non-metro respondents would prefer food pantry to food stamps (51% compared to 29% pantry to food stamps (51% compared to 29% of metro respondents.)of metro respondents.)

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Long-Term ClientsLong-Term Clients

What factors raise the likelihood of being a What factors raise the likelihood of being a long-term client?long-term client?

Logit modelLogit model Dependent variable, 1 if used pantry a Dependent variable, 1 if used pantry a

year or longer, 0 otherwise.year or longer, 0 otherwise.

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Model ResultsModel Results

Variable CoefficientStandard

errorMarginal

EffectStandard error

Constant -1.058 0.703 -0.258 0.169Run out of food often 0.48 0.522 0.117 0.127

Dummy for low education (less than GED or high school diploma) 0.515 0.477 0.125 0.116Family size 0.035 0.124 0.008 0.030Rural 1.783** 0.518 0.435** 0.126Single parent -0.226 0.493 -0.055 0.120Race-white -1.539** 0.559 -0.376** 0.136

Rural, African-Americans are more likely to be long-term clients.

** Significant at .01 level

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ConclusionsConclusions

Churches are highly involved in food Churches are highly involved in food pantry activities in Alabama and pantry activities in Alabama and MississippiMississippi

Although directors may harbor some Although directors may harbor some suspicions about clients, the clients in East suspicions about clients, the clients in East Alabama felt they were treated with Alabama felt they were treated with respect.respect.

Clients tend to be low-income women, Clients tend to be low-income women, raising children as a single parent.raising children as a single parent.

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ConclusionsConclusions

Directors tend to be well-educated, highly Directors tend to be well-educated, highly church-involved women of medium church-involved women of medium household income.household income.

Disabilities, poor education, and other Disabilities, poor education, and other problems may prevent some clients from problems may prevent some clients from achieving food security without assistance.achieving food security without assistance.

Only 35 percent of clients used food Only 35 percent of clients used food stamps. stamps.

4545

The Policy PictureThe Policy Picture

Food pantries in many areas are alreadystrained to meet demand. If demand growth continues, especially with another economic downturn, the private sector probably will be unable to bridge the hungergap. Expansion of the TEFAP program (federalprogram providing food to food banks) mighthelp, but if the government role expands,food pantries could lose their flexibility.

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The Policy PictureThe Policy Picture

In our study, we were unable to find outwhy so few food pantry clients (35 percent)were using food stamps. We did find thatsome had applied and been refused, andothers said they were not eligible. Othersdid not give a reason for not applying.

The growth of food banking leaves open thequestion of whether our government policiesare providing a sufficient safety net.

1 food banking in the deep south: profiles of clients and directors patricia a. duffy marina...

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