ABSTRACT

Rates of food insecurity vary highly across and within regions in the U.S., with rural Appalachia having higher rates compared to the rest of the country, leading parts of the population to rely on food pantries as a source of food. This article explores how food pantries fit into a broader scope of food acquisition strategies of rural Appalachian households and aims to contextualize this with an understanding of how food pantry users perceive their food pantry use. Semi-structured interviews (n=20) were conducted with food pantry users in Eastern Tennessee, followed by a survey for collection of demographic data. NVivo 11.4 software was used for thematic analysis and theory formulation. In addition to pantry use, participants reported reliance on grocery stores, and reciprocal, informal, food-sharing social networks to get food. Lack of transportation, insufficient food quantity, and other factors depleted participants’ food resources. Food stretching, refusing to waste food, acceptability of food pantry food, and money-saving strategies enhanced participants’ food resources. Food pantries are a consistent, but not the only food source for those who use them. Food pantry users are savvy with their resources and employ multiple strategies to maintain their food supply despite high levels of food insecurity.

摘要

美国各地区和地区内部的粮食不安全率差异很大，与该国其他地区相比，阿巴拉契亚农村地区的粮食不安全率更高，导致部分人口依赖食品储藏室作为食物来源。本文探讨了食品储藏室如何适应阿巴拉契亚农村家庭更广泛的食品获取策略，并旨在通过了解食品储藏室用户如何看待他们的食品储藏室使用情况来将其背景化。对田纳西州东部的食品储藏室用户进行了半结构化访谈 (n=20)，然后进行了人口统计数据收集调查。使用NVivo 11.4软件进行专题分析和理论制定。除了使用食品储藏室，参与者还报告依赖杂货店和互惠的、非正式的、共享食物的社交网络来获取食物。交通不便、食物数量不足等因素耗尽了参与者的食物资源。食物伸展、拒绝浪费食物、食物储藏室食物的可接受性以及省钱策略增强了参与者的食物资源。食品储藏室是一致的，但不是使用它们的人的唯一食物来源。食品储藏室的用户精通他们的资源，并采用多种策略来维持他们的食品供应，尽管食品不安全程度很高。