Frequency of Stretching Food Resources (12.2)
Agencies were asked whether their programs ever had to ration or limit food in order to provide some food to all clients and, if so, how often. Table 12.2.1 shows the varying degrees of frequency with which the food programs stretched food resources.
Table 12.2.1
FREQUENCY OF STRETCHING FOOD RESOURCES
> See also, Estimated Number of Program Having to Stretch Food Resources (Table 12.2.1N)
During 2005, how Often Did the Program Have to Reduce Meal Portions or Reduce the Quantity of Food in Food Packages Because of a Lack of Food |
Pantry Programs |
Kitchen Programs |
Shelter Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
Never |
39.4% |
65.1% |
73.2% |
Rarely |
42.5% |
25.6% |
20.5% |
SUBTOTAL |
81.9% |
90.6% |
93.8% |
Sometimes |
17.0% |
8.7% |
5.7% |
Always |
1.1% |
0.7% |
0.5% |
SUBTOTAL |
18.1% |
9.4% |
6.2% |
TOTAL |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
SAMPLE SIZE (N) |
18,436 |
4,514 |
2,704 |
Source:
This table was constructed
based on usable responses to Question 13 of the agency
survey
.
Notes:
The percentages presented in this table are based only on
usable responses, excluding missing, don’t know, and refusal responses.
All usable responses were weighted as described in Chapter 3
and in the Technical Appendix
volume to represent all emergency food programs of the A2H National Network. The sample sizes (N) also include missing data.
Missing, don’t know, and refusal responses combined are 5.7% for pantry programs, 12.4% for kitchen programs, and 13.4% for shelter programs.
During the year 2005, 39.4% of pantries, 65.1% of kitchens, and 73.2% of shelters never experienced the need to stretch food resources (reduce meal portions or reduce the quantity of food in food packages) because of a shortage of food available to be distributed.
- Nevertheless, 18.1% of the pantries, 9.4% of the kitchens, and 6.2% of the shelters indicated that they sometimes or always had to stretch food resources.