Marianna S. Wetherill|Mary B. Williams|Kayla Castleberry White|Ji Li|Jennifer Irvin Vidrine|Damon J. Vidrine
Food pantries as partners in population health: Assessing organizational and personnel readiness for delivering nutrition-focused charitable food assistance
University of Oklahoma|University of Oklahoma|University of Oklahoma|University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
food pantries serve populations high rates chronic disease thus may ideal settings communitybased health promotion programs study aimed describe readiness food pantry organizations n 69 personnel n 129 engage nutritionfocused food pantry services including nutrition education application dietary guidelines disease prevention management components existing food assistance programs among survey respondents personnel reported asking clients chronic disease diagnoses providing clients nutrition education half reported lower confidence performing activities yet majority interested training address client health needs however organizational capacity currently restricted lack nutrition policies limited healthy food inventory including fruits vegetables address nutritional needs clients food pantries may benefit inperson training additional resources obtain distribute healthier foods