title: Relation between annual trends in food pantry use and long-term unemployment in New York State, 2002-2012.
abstract: We examined the correlation between trends in meals provided through food pantries and long-term unemployment from 2002 through 2012. The New York State Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program provided about 192 million meals through food pantries in 2012-double the number before the Great Recession. Annual food pantry use was strongly correlated with long-term unemployment and remained on an upward trend from 2006 through 2012, even after the Great Recession had ended. These findings suggest that efforts to reduce hunger and food insecurity should continue to be priorities.
authors.affiliation: At the time of the study, Gene Shackman, Chengxuan Yu, Lynn S. Edmunds, Lewis Clarke, and Jackson P. Sekhobo were with the Division of Nutrition, New York State Department of Health, Albany.
authors.forename: Gene
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shackman
authors.forename: Chengxuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Lynn S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Edmunds
authors.forename: Lewis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Jackson P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sekhobo
mesh_terms: D057172:Economic Recession / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063105:Food Assistance / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005522:Food Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D009518:New York; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*