Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger

Anyone working to end hunger can learn from these innovative, proven strategies and inspiring success stories.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2021
Publisher: Island Press

In the United States, a vast network of at least 370 food banks and over 60,000 hunger-relief organizations, including food pantries and meal programs, work tirelessly to provide billions of meals annually to those in need. Despite these efforts, hunger persists, impacting one in nine Americans. Where is the breakdown in this system?

In her book, Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries, Katie Martin challenges the conventional notion that simply distributing more food is the solution to hunger. Martin proposes a new model for charitable food that emphasizes the transformation of lives rather than the quantity of food distributed. She argues that by addressing the root causes of hunger, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of access to healthy food, we can create lasting solutions.

Martin's book offers practical strategies for food banks and pantries to implement, ranging from short-term measures to long-term initiatives. These strategies include providing client choice, redesigning waiting rooms to create a more dignified experience, increasing the supply of healthy food, offering job training programs, and connecting clients to other social services. By focusing on empathy, equity, and political will, food banks and pantries can become more effective in addressing hunger.

Inspiring success stories and backed by scientific research, Martin's book provides readers with a wealth of proven ideas to make their charitable food organizations more empathetic and effective. She emphasizes that ending hunger requires more than just food; it requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying social and economic issues.

In conclusion, Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries is a valuable resource for anyone interested in addressing hunger and creating a more just food system. By focusing on the root causes of hunger and implementing practical strategies, we can work towards a world where no one goes to bed hungry.

Weight: 376g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642831535