Section 14.1.1

14.1.1 - Products Needed From Food Banks

Agencies were also asked to identify the categories of products they need more of from their food bank. Table 14.1.1 presents the findings.

Table 14.1.1

PRODUCTS NEEDED FROM FOOD BANKS

Categories of Food and Nonfood Products Programs Need or Need More of from Their Food Bank¹	Pantry Programs	Kitchen Programs	Shelter Programs
Bread, cereal, rice, and pasta	32.2%	22.5%	24.0%
Fresh fruits and vegetables	32.1%	41.8%	41.2%
Canned or frozen fruits and vegetables	28.3%	25.0%	21.5%
Meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts	53.6%	50.0%	51.1%
Milk, yogurt, and cheese	35.2%	37.3%	41.1%
Fats, oils, condiments, and sweets	17.8%	23.2%	21.1%
Cleaning or personal hygiene products, diapers, and toilet paper	51.4%	33.5%	54.1%
Other²	9.8%	10.8%	7.7%
SAMPLE SIZE (N)	12,468	2,853	2,131

Source
This table was constructed based on usable responses to Question 26 of the agency survey.

Notes
All usable responses were weighted as described in Chapter 3 and in the Technical Appendix volume to represent all emergency food programs of the A2H network. The sample sizes (N) also include missing data.

Missing, don't know, and refusal responses combined are 6.0% for pantry programs, 18.4% for kitchen programs, and 16.6% for shelter programs.

1. Multiple responses were accepted.

2. This includes paper products, such as plastic utensils, paper plates, and garbage bags; beverages, such as juice, coffee, and tea; and dietary supplements, such as vitamins and Ensure.

As presented in Table 14.1.1, many agencies wish to receive more of certain products from their food banks. Specifics are as follows:

32.2% of the pantries, 22.5% of the kitchens, and 24.0% of the shelters need more bread, cereal, rice, and pasta.
32.1% of the pantries, 41.8% of the kitchens, and 41.2% of the shelters need more fresh fruits and vegetables.
28.3% of the pantries, 25.0% of the kitchens, and 21.5% of the shelters need more canned or frozen fruits and vegetables.
53.6% of the pantries, 50.0% of the kitchens, and 51.1% of the shelters need more meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.
35.2% of the pantries, 37.3% of the kitchens, and 41.1% of the shelters need more milk, yogurt, and cheese.
17.8% of the pantries, 23.2% of the kitchens, and 21.1% of the shelters need more fats, oils, condiments, and sweets.
51.4% of the pantries, 33.5% of the kitchens, and 54.1% of the shelters need more products in the category of cleaning or personal hygiene products, diapers, and toilet paper.