After the Great Recession, households began using emergency food assistance programs as a consistent solution to their food needs.
In 2012, Feeding America, in partnership with Austin Community College, published Food Banks: Hunger’s New Staple. Drawing on data from Feeding America’s Hunger in America 2010 study, findings suggest that, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, families not only visit pantries for emergencies or temporary food needs – instead, for most people seeking food assistance, pantries became a part of households’ long-term strategies to supplement monthly food budget shortfalls. Seniors, who so often are limited by fixed or limited incomes, were among the most consistent pantry clients.
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