Here is a great video that showcases what we are trying to do:

Resources

USDA ERS – Definitions of Food Security
Download chart data in Excel format. The defining characteristic of very low food security is that, at times during the year, the food intake of household members is reduced and their normal eating patterns are disrupted because the household lacks money and other resources for food.

U.S. Hunger Relief Organization | Feeding America
1 in 7 people struggle with hunger in the U.S. Feeding America is a hunger relief organization with a nationwide network of food banks feeding the hungry. Get involved.

Hunger & Poverty in Michigan | Map the Meal Gap
Feeding America has published the Map the Meal Gap project since 2011, thanks to the generous support of The Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Nielsen, and the Conagra Brands Foundation, to learn more about the face of hunger at the local level.. You can learn more about how we got the map data, read our full report and briefs, and access data tables by county and congressional

Food Bank Council of Michigan
THE FOOD BANK COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN’S MISSION: To create a food secure state through advocacy, resource management, and collaboration among stakeholders and Michigan’s unified food bank network.

Food Assistance Programs
Get information on food assistance programs that are available to certain individuals and groups. Programs include SNAP, WIC, the National School Lunch Program, and more.

The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Michigan | Food Bank Council of Michigan
“Detroiters continue to migrate to other communities, and suburbanites who once had a comfortable, middle-class life as employees of the area’s automotive sector now live in poverty, left behind as the economy moves on without them.”

The ALICE Project – Michigan Association of United Ways
That’s why United Ways across Michigan, with help from the Consumers Energy Foundation, have come together to bring you the ALICE Project. Standing for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – ALICE represents those in our communities who are working yet still struggling to make ends meet.. The ALICE Report is the most comprehensive depiction of need in Michigan to date.

Discover Michigan Fresh – MSU Extension
Discover Michigan Fresh farmer’s market tours help SNAP-Ed eligible residents get to know their local farmer’s markets and explore Michigan-grown produce. The tours encourage participants to shop at their farmer’s market for nutritious and affordable foods that keep their dollars local.

Navigating the Food Pantry with Diabetes – MSU Extension
Food insecurity is more common among households with a person living with diabetes, yet food insecurity is a risk factor for developing diabetes. To help fight this problem, MSU Extension has created a free online learning module called Navigating the Food Pantry with Diabetes. This course helps food pantry staff better serve clients who are managing diabetes.

Studies and Articles

Living on a Food Pantry Diet
Kathryn M. Jackelen | St. Catherine University
April 2013 – In 2011, food insecurity affected one in six Americans. In order to achieve food security, many families turn to food pantries with options less healthy than traditional supermarkets. A survey with 32 multiple choice and short-answer questions was distributed at a food pantry in the Twin Cities area to measure food pantry usage and demographics.

Food Insecurity Is Associated with Lower Cognitive Functioning in a National Sample of Older Adults
Eduardo T Portela-Parra, Cindy W Leung | Oxford University – The Journal of Nutrition
June 2019 – Food insecurity, a social and economic condition of inadequate food resources, is known to affect cognitive development in children. However, research is sparse among adult populations, particularly older adults who may be more susceptible to accelerated cognitive decline. In this national sample of 1823 adults aged ≥60 y, food insecurity was inversely associated with cognitive function, which may translate into higher risk of cognitive impairment over time.

When Healthy Food is Out of Reach: A Food Access Survey in Northwest Lower Michigan
Michigan State University (MSU) Center for Regional Food Systems
June 28, 2019 – This report presents the results of a spring 2018 survey of food pantry users in Benzie and Antrim counties. This survey was an opportunity to understand the experiences of pantry users in order to call attention to food access needs in these communities and inform network strategies. By focusing on the perspectives of people currently struggling to meet basic needs, survey findings can help identify ways the food system can better serve all community residents.

Medicaid Beneficiaries Face Significant Food Insecurity Challenges
October 15, 2018 – Medicaid beneficiaries face significant food insecurity challenges and may require additional healthcare programs to reduce food insecurity risks, according to new research from…

Assessment of a New Healthy Food Policy at Two Food Pantries in Grand Rapids, MI
by Katherine D. Hekstra | Grand Valley State University Research
Background The purpose of food pantries has traditionally been to provide short-term assistance to food insecure individuals, however recent research indicates that food pantries are often used longer periods of time. This increased use indicates a greater importance for food pantries to distribute nutrient-dense foods to food insecure individuals, some who may suffer from chronic disease.

Frequency of Food Pantry Use Is Associated with Diet Quality among Indiana Food Pantry Clients
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Food-insecure households access food pantries to receive supplemental food, yet limited examination of the relationships of food pantry use or household food insecurity with diet quality and health has been documented among food pantry users.

NIH study finds heavily processed foods cause overeating and weight gain
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
News Release. Thursday, May 16, 2019. NIH study finds heavily processed foods cause overeating and weight gain . Small-scale trial is the first randomized, controlled research of its kind.

National Center for Biotechnology Information
Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality-a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies.

International Journal of Epidemiology
Fruit and vegetable intakes were associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and all-cause mortality. These results support public health recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable intake for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature mortality.