Abstract

As the percentages and numbers of older adults in the U.S. who are food insecure increase, so does reliance on food pantries. Food pantries have not been well designed for their increasingly older clientele. This article uses life course and social ecological theories to understand the successes and challenges older adults face when using food pantries to address food insecurity.

Between March 2021 and November 2021, we conducted 63 in-depth interviews with adults aged 60 and older whose incomes were less than 130% of the federal poverty line. Food pantries vary substantially and so do the experiences of their clients.

Respondents commented favorably on their interactions with food pantries, particularly an abundance of healthy fresh food, convenient food deliveries, access to household and personal supplies, connections to other social services, and volunteering at pantries. However, respondents also described challenges, including lack of fresh produce and meat, food that is about to expire, poor transportation and mobility, administrative burden, and long waits to obtain food.

These findings highlight the need to make food pantries more user-friendly for older adults who are food insecure.