Iowa State University Extension

Problem:
The Des Moines Area Religious Council in Central Iowa manages eight food pantries using donations from local religious and other organizations. The pantries provide food for five days for a family. Since 2002, Iowa State University Extension has cooperated with the pantries to conduct a survey. The survey looks at hunger status, health needs and pantry usage. The survey conducted in Spring, 2007, was the third survey and had 618 responses.The pantry will serve 3000 households monthly on average.

Response:
Gathering this rich data from people in need is very valuable for providers and educators. Iowa State University has developed the survey instrument, printed all blank surveys, distributed to the eight pantries, enters data after completion of the survey, analyzed the data and provided the data and analysis to the food pantry decision makers. The pantry staff have administered the survey and returned to the University. The survey has helped Extension monitor the hunger status in our community and has provided data for education and food needed in the food packages. For example, after the 2004 survey, we determined that the incidents of diabetes was three times as high in the pantry population as the general populations and we provided workshops for pantry participants on food selection and diabetes. In 2007, three additional counties (Black Hawk, Woodbury, and Cerro Gordo ) began providing surveys to local food pantries. This will also allow the data to be compared in a wider area for trends for the state.

Impact:
The food pantry committee for Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) finds the surveys valuable in their planning. After each survey, the results are shared and compared to the last survey to find differences. With three surveys, we anticipate we will see trends that can help the committee to determine where to use resources. It is hearting to know that in the 2007 survey, the report of food insecurity with hunger had decreased by 4%. The survey results are also used by the individual pantries to validate the need to their organizations.

We continue to look at chronic disease in the food pantry population to see if there is need to special foods or education. This close relationship with the pantries also allows us to easily do referrals to the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. In 2008, Iowa State University Extension will also be contacting fourteen additional food pantries not participating in the DMARC organization to include them in the survey work and provide food stamp education. The cooperation with Iowa State Univeristy Extension state staff, University faculty and field staff are a perfect way to establish need and accomplish change.

Other Staff Involved:
Kimberly Greder Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Studies and Family Life Extension State Specialist ph: 515-294-5906 kgreder@iastate.edu

Additional Community Partners:
Sandy Rodemyer, Director DMARC Food Pantries 3816 38 Street, Des Moines , IA 50310 (515) 277-6969

Contact:
Susan Klein
Polk County Extension
5201 NE 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50313
515-261-4213
sklein@iastate.edu