Understanding Food Pantry/Partner Needs of Midwest Food Bank

The purpose of this study was to explore the diverse demands of non-profit organizations receiving aid from Midwest Food Bank for the purpose of distributing to various food insecure communities. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 1 in 6 Americans experience food insecurity, which is 12.3% of the population. In Illinois, 11.1% of household\u27s experience food insecurity (Illinois Hunger Coalition, 2017). We need to ensure there is access to nutritional foods that can be acquired in socially acceptable ways. The main questions that were addressed during this study were: To what extent is Midwest Food Bank satisfying the nutritional needs of their distribution partners? How do nonprofit organizations accommodate the food security needs of their communities\u27 demographics? Methods used to create a needs assessment included observation of different local food pantries and surveys and interviews from the local food pantry administrators in order to assess the food demands of their respective communities and other organizational needs. In the end, we were able to come to the conclusion of what these local partners of Midwest Food Bank need in order to meet their specific demographics. We were able to use our resources to create a needs assessment that can continue to be used for other nonprofit organizations that Midwest Food Bank partners with