(P02-052-25) Older Age Is Significantly Associated With Increased Food Security Among Pantry Clients in Baltimore

Objectives: Food assistance programs have been widely successful in addressing food insecurity, however, their impact among regular food pantry clients remains unclear. Therefore, we sought to examine food security status and its associations with demographic characteristics and food assistance program participation among a sample of pantry clients living in Baltimore, Maryland.

Methods: Participants (N=110) were randomly selected from nine Baltimore food pantries identified as part of a larger ongoing trial. Demographic characteristics (i.e., age, sex, race, education, marital and employment status) and food security status were collected in-person using a structured survey which included the six-item USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Data analyses were conducted using logistic regression models in R 4.4.3.

Results: Participants were primarily female (67.3%), Black or African American (79.1%), unemployed (80.0%), and most had less than a high school education (62.7%). Based on self-reported food security status, participants were categorized into three groups: high or marginal food security (n=31, 28.2%), low food security (n=37, 33.6%), and very low food security (n=42, 38.2%). Nearly two-thirds (59.1%) participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) across all ages, while younger women were more likely to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). SNAP participation was highest among participants with very low food security (71.4%). Interestingly, among all participants, the odds of experiencing food insecurity decreased by 2% (p=0.001) with each additional year of age, although SNAP participation and other demographic factors did not show significant effects on food security status.

Conclusions: In our sample of pantry clients, older age was significantly associated with increased food security. This suggests a need for consideration of age-targeted intervention strategies in future food security programs and policies. The lack of significant findings associated with SNAP participation also indicates a need for further research in a larger sample to ascertain clearer nuances in SNAP and pantry usage.

Funding Sources: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health