• About the Study
• Methodology
• Key Findings
• Who We Serve
• How We Serve
  • Agency Profiles
    • Participating Programs
    • Number of Programs
    • Agencies Operating Various Programs
    • Length of Operation
    • Other Services
    • Agency Type
    • Programs Service Selected Clients
    • Change in Number of Clients
    • Seasonality
  • Agency Food Services
  • Agency Capacity
  • Agency Resources
  • Food Banks
• Local Picture
• Snapshot Comparisons
• Media Center

Seasonality of Client Mix (10.9)

Agencies were asked whether their programs experience significant change in client mix by season and, if so, what kinds of change.  Results are shown in Table 10.9.1.

Table 10.9.1
SEASONALITY OF CLIENT MIX

Nature of Changes in Client Mix During the Year a	Pantry Programs	Kitchen Programs	Shelter Programs
Ratio of men to women changes	17.8%	23.7%	21.5%
Mix of ethnic groups changes	17.6%	22.4%	39.6%
Many more children in summer	29.4%	40.9%	16.4%
Many more migrant workers in summer	5.9%	6.5%	3.2%
Many more migrant workers in winter	4.1%	3.2%	1.8%
Different group of people at the holidays	57.3%	36.4%	27.8%
Other b	5.5%	5.5%	5.5%
Do not experience change in client mix	29.4%	32.7%	31.0%
SAMPLE SIZE (N)	17,456	3,976	2,446

Source:        
This table was constructed based on usable responses to Questions 19 of the agency survey .

Notes:     
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 5.4% for pantry programs, 11.9% for kitchen programs, and 9.4% for shelter programs.

a Multiple responses were accepted.

b This includes fewer elderly people in winter and more families in winter.

29.4% of the pantries, 32.7% of the kitchens, and 31.0% of the shelters indicated that they do not experience seasonal changes in the mix of clients during the year.  As to the nature of seasonal changes in client mix among programs that experience such changes:

• 17.8% of the pantries, 23.7% of the kitchens, and 21.5% of the shelters said they experience changes in the ratio of men to women.
• 29.4% of the pantries, 40.9% of the kitchens, and 16.4% of the shelters said they serve more children in summer.
• 57.3% of the pantries, 36.4% of the kitchens, and 27.8% of the shelters said they serve a different group of people during the holidays.