Build capacity for offering more than food
We know that it takes more than food to end hunger.
The More Than Food framework is an evidence-based strategy that focuses on building the capacity of food pantries to provide more than just transactional distributions of food. We build the capacity of agencies to: offer a welcoming Culture, provide healthy Choice, and offer Connections to community resources using warm referrals, partnerships, and coaching.
3 C’s of the More Than Food Framework
Welcoming Culture
Healthy Choice
Connections to Community Resources
OUR WORK SPOTLIGHT: CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS
“Planting seeds for success in food pantry settings.”
The More Than Food Capacity Assessment for Food Pantries is a tool that has been used by hundreds of organizations and food banks from across the United States. The assessment is guided by the More Than Food framework and can help organizations identify areas of opportunity to build their capacity.
“We take the capacity assessment very seriously. We have used the results strategically as we plan our programs. We have also included the results into two grant proposals and we absolutely believe this has helped us to garner additional funding for capacity building.” — Angela Brown, Loving Our Cities
Resources
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Creating a Welcoming Culture at Food Pantries
A neighbor’s experience at a food pantry is an important factor of whether they will come back or be willing to seek food assistance again. The term “culture” describes a neighbor’s experiences engaging with a pantry and its staff.
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Offering Healthy Choice at Food Pantries
Offering choice in pantries is a better practice to promote dignity, increase satisfaction for neighbors and volunteers, and reduce food waste. This guide explains research, benefits and strategies to offering healthy choice.
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Building Connection at Food Pantries
Offering connections to other community resources and programs can help address the root causes of hunger and serve the whole person. This guide describes opportunities and strategies for building connections and offering more than food.
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Offering Full Choice in Food Pantries is Feasible and Improves Pantry Operations
This report is based on a 2022 study that explores the barriers, facilitators and impact of offering full choice at food pantries. Of pantries that increased choice, 79% said overall operations improved.
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Offering Choice at Food Pantries: Impact for Families
This research brief is based on a 2022-2023 project that included participation from 30 food banks in the Feeding America network. Research showed that neighbors had a better experience at food pantries that offered full choice.
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Interactive Course: Change Talk
Change Talk is a strengths-based training program with two self-paced, interactive courses for food pantry and food bank staff to build skills around motivational interviewing (MI) to support positive changes in people’s lives.
“I am proud to report that we transitioned to 100% neighbor (client) choice a few months ago and our experience bears out all that you share in your book. Again, I can’t thank you enough for sharing your work and experience and hopefully our paths will cross.”
— Rob Joynt, Food Services Specialist, Marillac St. Vincent Family Services
