Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger

by Katie S. Martin

In the US, there is a wide-ranging network of at least 370 food banks, and more than 60,000 hunger-relief organizations such as food pantries and meal programs. These groups provide billions of meals a year to people in need. And yet hunger still affects one in nine Americans. What are we doing wrong?

In Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries , Katie Martin argues that if handing out more and more food was the answer, we would have solved the problem of hunger decades ago. Martin instead presents a new model for charitable food, one where success is measured not by pounds of food distributed but by lives changed. The key is to focus on the root causes of hunger. When we shift our attention to strategies that build empathy, equity, and political will, we can implement real solutions. 

Martin shares those solutions in a warm, engaging style, with simple steps that anyone working or volunteering at a food bank or pantry can take today. Some are short-term strategies to create a more dignified experience for food pantry providing client choice, where individuals select their own food, or redesigning a waiting room with better seating and a designated greeter. Some are increasing the supply of healthy food, offering job training programs, or connecting clients to other social services. And some are big joining the fight for living wages and a stronger social safety net.

These strategies are illustrated through inspiring success stories and backed up by scientific research. Throughout, readers will find a wealth of proven ideas to make their charitable food organizations more empathetic and more effective. As Martin writes, it takes more than food to end hunger. Picking up this insightful, lively book is a great first step.

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Social Justice, Politics, Sociology, Social Issues, Health

280 pages, Paperback

Published March 9, 2021

About the author

Katie S. Martin, PhD, is the CEO of More Than Food Consulting, LLC. She is recognized as a thought leader on food security issues, and has over 25 years of experience developing and evaluating holistic solutions to hunger. She earned a Ph.D. in Nutrition Science & Policy from Tufts University, and has presented her work at dozens of regional and national conferences. Katie is happily married, is the proud mom of two sons, and blessed to be a host parent for an exchange student from Nigeria. Katie is the author of a new book titled Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger, published in March 2021.

Reviews

[Mary Kate Adgie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect book for my new gig! This book provides a direct and comprehensive approach for how and why the charitable food system - particularly food pantries - need to change to move from the transactional to transformational. I appreciated how the recommendations were all values- and evidence-driven. (And it was action oriented. I probably would have written a much more scathing critique of why food insecurity is so bad in the U.S.)

While there’s still much to be done in the charitable food system (and U.S. policy because no way can things truly change until our government changes), I’m glad there’s a book plainly explaining and encouraging food pantries and banks to move in the ring direction step by step.

[Sydnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is alarming that Martin’s advocacy for what I consider to be The Basics is poised as a revolutionary vision of the charitable food model. We have so much work to do.

Hated the J.D Vance feature.


update: read again and did not like.

[Karla Hagemeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025: I am now 3 years in at my organization. I keep this book handy and recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about food security. All new board members receive a copy. It is a clear, concise, enjoyable read with plenty of real life examples. Her menu presentation and action steps at the end of each chapter make it clear that this is a process and that every organization has agency to do what works for them. It has held up!

2022: As a newly hired director of a food hub, this book was incredibly affirming for the vision I have for our future. I bought a copy for every member of my board and will be delivering them this week. I love that she approaches it all on a spectrum, allowing space for the time it takes to do the work and that each community is different. But most of all, I love how it affirms the dignity and worth of the guests who will receive services through our organization.

[Serge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Community Food Hubs

Ms Martin makes a convincing case for reimagining how we frame hunger in relation to a host of social dislocations that magnify not only food insecurity but more worryingly social vulnerability. The partnerships for which she advocates could be transformational. The American Rescue Plan includes sizeable funding for nutrition assistance. Now is the time to implement the vision for the Beloved Community that would meet the best hopes of the last half century.

[Roban · Rating 3 out of 5]

I studied in a nonprofit program and college and am a food banker. There’s a fine line between academic writing and brain dumping a topic you know a lot about. What I mean to say is that I’m not a huge fan of the writing style used in this book, as it lands on that thin line and everything in it should be taken with a grain of salt. However, if you’re someone with no knowledge about food insecurity, or the lives of people outside of your social circle, this book would be a beneficial read. Some of the stories shared are useful, some of the information is thought provoking. I took notes along with reading, and I definitely learned things. This would be beneficial for those working at food pantries or smaller food banks. I think it could make a good team read & discuss book.

[Natanya Wombwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this for people working in or running food bank programs to re-evaluate best practices to serve in an effective and dignified way.

[Phobean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Discovered this book by accident, sitting on a stack of books in the newly established teaching kitchen at a library branch in Boston. My non-profit job had recently established an emergency food pantry delivery effort so I was drawn to this topic, and the librarian who happened to have this book checked out at the time told me it was an excellent resource. I ended up buying a copy and slow reading it over a year’s time. It is a definitive read: informative, thoughtful, sensitive to the community it seeks to serve, and doesn’t hold back around the topics of inequity and racism, the harm food pantries can unintentionally engage in, nutrition, volunteer engagement and expectation setting, and growing an effort beyond pounds of food served. Overall, I appreciated the author’s clear voice and her vision of community hubs whose support reaches well beyond serving up redistributed food, instead establishing landing spots for folks struggling with tough circumstances to find their feet again, advocate for their needs and those of their families, and help to bring positive change to their communities and to the country.

[Marc Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Martin is on a mission to eradicate food insecurity by building a more creative and coordinated system that leaves nobody behind. Katie has dedicated her career to researching food insecurity, talking with individuals who experience food insecurity, visiting food banks and food pantries, and creating programs to provide more long-term solutions to hunger. I can really recommend this book, I learned so much.
I was delighted to have her as my guest on my podcast Inside Ideas and to hear more about these ideas you can listen to episode 81 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiwPE...

Or check out the links below:
https://www.innovatorsmag.com/new-too...
https://www.innovatorsmag.com/inside-...
https://medium.com/inside-ideas/dr-ka...

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know how i ended up listening to this audiobook. I have no direct connection to a food bank or a food pantry, but maybe hunger is my community is something I should be thinking about. The narrator had a pleasant voice and the book wasn't overly academic. The author gave really practical examples of how food banks and food pantries can evolve to help meet more than just immediate needs for food.

[Carlen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read this for work and it was so much better now that I manage my own food pantry. Very helpful tips I’m excited to implement!

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful exploration of what it would really look like to address food insecurity in this country. The author addresses best practices for food pantries (things like giving their customers choice and a voice as well as thoughtful partnerships with the same vision). She also addresses broader policy change, coordination among services to assist families. Ideally the goal is not number of meals provided or pounds of food but for people to no longer need assistance. In the end, she asks people who work in/with food banks and pantries to consider taking just one of the steps she mentions.

There was one brief paragraph that mentioned Hillbilly Elegy which I thought was strange after so much talk about treating people with dignity. There is a section in Vance’s book where he works in a grocery store and looks down on people receiving assistance (even though his family received assistance from the government). This is the opposite of the vibe of this book and I would probably not have used him as an example. Like I said, it was just one paragraph but it struck me as odd.

Overall a good and helpful read for people who care about this kind of work.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intuitive and practical solutions. I like the concepts of letting ppl choose the food they want to prevent food waste in the pantry, emphasizing choice, and research methods to connect university research to implementation in the food organizations. Recommend for starter advice into food pantry and bank careers.

[Rahul Devaskar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

Good ideation on areas of change for food pantries. Having some exposure and experience many points where more conceptual and already familiar. However a good book to find new books and more actionable/inspiring works (eg The Stop by Nick Saul).

Read more of "how you should do xyz" rather than a more nuanced "heres how we did it"

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a little bit familiar with this subject because I took a Food Politics course last year. Food insecurity is a systemic issue that’s been affecting for an extended period of time and we need to fix this so that the next generation of people won’t be further burdened by this.

[SVEN Reigle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your food pantry reports on how many more pounds of food they've distributed this year...they are doing it wrong. This book is a comprehensive look at how food pantries can truly reduce hunger and offers some constructive criticism at our current system.

[wes moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a food bank consumer and haven't ever worked in one, but I've considered it. I did find the history of food banks interesting, and recognized the ways in which they're trying to improve. I recognize the full choice movement, for example. My food bank does it! It's an interesting book.

[Lissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you engage in any kind of work or fundraising or volunteering or influencing food pantries or food access or food policies -- this is something you should read and discuss in your community. Recommended by Johnathan.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has changed my entire focus at work & inspired me to take a promotion that was offered just becuase it will give me the management capabilities to champion these ideas at our organization.

[Jim Mullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being new to the food bank world, I did find this book interesting and a good reference.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthwhile read. Not everything I agree with and at times the writing was sloppy and self indulgent but overall, I would recommend folks reading this book.

[Karalee James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read before I started my internship. Obviously this was very educational and worth my time to read but oh MAN was it boring and read like a textbook

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

i mean it was fine, very tactical, probably could've been an article

[Danica is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative, quick read with lots of practical advice. I learned a ton about food banks and pantries and food insecurity. I am glad I read this one.

More hands-on than academic.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good ideas about food banks and pantries, but when she turns that into social justice work she really seems in way over her head.

[Brianna Montross · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for those working in the charitable foods system! I partner with many food pantries and banks and agree that these are best practices.

[Connor O'Hanlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone in the charitable food system. Perfect for groundwork building on my capstone project for a Community Fridge Program.

[McKenna Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drop the fucking mic dude this book was incredible

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very insightful book, however, very repetitive. Another there said it could have been summarized efficiently in an article, and I have to agree.

[Angela Eldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read for anyone working in the charitable food space.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I work at a food bank and this is a very thoughtful summary of current food insecurity and hunger issues that I see with our food bank programs. I am sharing it widely with my staff and hopefully our board members and agency partners (potentially as a virtual book club read) so that we can share in discussions of the innovative approaches that might work in our communities. I highly recommend this book!