Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries

New Tools to End Hunger

By: Katie S. Martin

Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi

In the US, there is a wide-ranging network of at least 370 food banks, and more than 60,000 hunger-relief organizations such as food pantries and meal programs. These groups provide billions of meals a year to people in need. And yet hunger still affects one in nine Americans. What are we doing wrong?

In Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries, Katie Martin argues that if handing out more and more food was the answer, we would have solved the problem of hunger decades ago. Martin instead presents a new model for charitable food, one where success is measured not by pounds of food distributed but by lives changed. The key is to focus on the root causes of hunger. When we shift our attention to strategies that build empathy, equity, and political will, we can implement real solutions.

Martin shares those solutions in a warm, engaging style, with simple steps that anyone working or volunteering at a food bank or pantry can take today. Some are short-term strategies to create a more dignified experience for food pantry clients: providing client choice, where individuals select their own food, or redesigning a waiting room with better seating and a designated greeter. Some are longer-term: increasing the supply of healthy food, offering job training programs, or connecting clients to other social services.

©2021 Katie S. Martin (P)2021 Tantor

Everything

I enjoyed how much I was able to learn from this book as well as I loved how each chapter ended with action steps to take.

A go to book for nutrition security work

This book is a wonderful resource to spur innovation. Great ideas and common sense implementation ideas.

A most read for food pantries and poverty organizations

Katie provides a model and roam map for food security provider to follow starting today. Don’t be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ideas and activities listed.