Food Pantry System Needs an Overhaul

With many food pantries around the country being operated by "little old ladies in sneakers," hunger advocates are beginning to worry about who will staff these indispensable operations once an exceedingly aging volunteer base can no longer do it.

After popping up in major cities and small towns alike during the 1970s,  food pantries are now being hit with the greatest increase in demand (which has risen between 30 and 70 percent over the past year) they have ever experienced.  This is especially troublesome for the elderly volunteers whose bodies simply cannot work any faster or harder.

Many are hoping that as the civically-minded baby boomer generation heads toward retirement, a new group of hunger activists will begin to pick up the slack.  It's certainly good news that out of the three billion hours baby boomers spent volunteering last year, nearly 25 percent of that time went to collecting or distributing food.

However, with the recession wiping out many retirement accounts, there's no guarantee that baby boomers will be able to actually leave their paying jobs for the volunteer realm anytime soon.

Part of the solution to resource and staff constraints in hunger organizations is to become more efficient and collaborative.  This is the strategy that Philabundance -- the Delaware Valley's largest hunger relief agency -- has recently started to pursue.

In addition to working together with regional organizations like the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, Philabundance has taken a page from the University District Food Bank's playbook and is beginning to open up food pantries that let clients choose exactly what kind of food they receive.

Beyond making the food pantry experience a bit more dignified, the "self-serve" model also improves organizational efficiency by having the clients select the food for themselves (instead of needing volunteers/staff to pack up individual bags).

With manpower likely to be in short supply, at least in the near future, it will be imperative for the entire food assistance network (pantries, distribution centers, etc.) to continue to test out innovative new approaches to feeding the hungry.

(Photo credit: Walter Schwabe (@fusedlogic) on Flickr)