Offering Full Choice in Food Pantries is Feasible and Improves Pantry Operations

Traditional food pantries distribute identical bags of food to all neighbors. Choice pantries allow neighbors to select their food. The study intervention included monthly calls to build the capacity of pantries to offer more choice. Goals were to explore barriers, facilitators, and impact of offering choice. Ninety pantries from 26 food banks completed surveys, and 16 pantries participated in qualitative interviews. Food pantries of all types were able to offer choice, and pantries significantly increased choice between July 2021 and February 2022. Of pantries that increased choice, 79% said overall operations improved. Results can encourage additional pantries to offer choice.