Food Pantry Use and Its Association with Food Environment and Food Acquisition Behavior among Urban Adults

Population-based survey data of 2,022 adults in Schenectady, NY were analyzed to identify determinants of food pantry use. A logistic regression model that controlled for socioeconomic variables demonstrated that food insecurity, government nutrition assistant program participation, use of a soup kitchen, living in a low supermarket access neighborhood, shopping at a corner store and a dollar store were positively associated with food pantry use, while shopping at an ethnic market was inversely associated with food pantry use. This study suggests neighborhood food environment and secondary (non-supermarket) shopping venues are independent determinants of food pantry use among urban, racially diverse adults.