just enough money for the bills but you still gotta eat , so we came in here and got us some groceries ” ( P15 ). Another participant stated that she “ got laid off from work ”( P4 ), which led to her accessing food pantries for the first time .
Wage changes leading to initial pantry utilization were not exclusive to job loss . Participants also described changes in their income level at their current job , both related to a decrease in hours and hourly pay . When asked what was happening in their life that led to pantry utilization , one participant stated , “ wages got cut , food stamps got cut , and life got hard ” ( P31 ), and another , “ well less work ” ( P20 ). Another participant described the seasonality of employment , resulting in job loss or significant financial strain : “ No money , I didn ’ t have a job then and then , like I said , I ’ m in the landscaping and sometimes it ’ s good and sometimes it ’ s bad ” ( P16 ).
Costs Associated With Acute and Chronic Illness Participants explained how costs associated with acute and chronic illnesses resulted in them having to choose between their health and food . One participant described a medical event that cascaded into applying for federal benefits and accessing food pantries : “ Heart attacks , that was the beginning . I applied for food stamps , and they referred me to [ food pantries ]” ( P3 ). Another participant explained the dilemma of covering health care costs and food : “ I lost my job because of my illness , and we went down to one income , which was $ 24,000 a year , and we were just trapped . We had to start doing something . The cupboards were getting bare ” ( P37 ).
When asked why they began going to food pantries , multiple participants expressed that it was due to someone in the household becoming disabled . These participants found themselves in a cycle of using food pantries when they were injured or became ill and had to file for disability benefits , particularly because the timeline for receipt of benefits or the amount of benefits resulted in a major financial gap for the household : “ I was living on the streets until I got my disability and it took almost two years for me to get my disability ”
Table 1 . Sociodemographic Characteristics and Food Pantry Use in Arkansas Food Pantry Users ( N = 50 )
Participant Characteristics N (%)
SOCIODEMOGRAPHICS Age ( Median , IQR ) 48.0 ( 39.0-57.0 ) Race / Ethnicity Non-Hispanic White 21 ( 42.0 %) Hispanic 14 ( 28.0 %) Pacific Islander 8 ( 16.0 %) American Indian / Alaskan Native 4 ( 8.0 %) African American 2 ( 4.0 %) Multi-Race 1 ( 2.0 %) Sex Female 38 ( 76.0 %) Male 12 ( 24.0 %) Insurance coverage No 20 ( 40.0 %) Yes 30 ( 60.0 %) Employment status Unemployed 22 ( 44.0 %) Employed 14 ( 28.0 %) Unable to Work 11 ( 22.0 %) Retired 3 ( 6.0 %) Number of household members 18 years of age or older One ( i . e ., only the respondent ) 10 ( 20.0 %) Two 18 ( 36.0 %) Three 13 ( 26.0 %) Four or more 9 ( 18.0 %) Number of household members less than 18 years of age Zero 20 ( 40.0 %) One 7 ( 14.0 %) Two 8 ( 16.0 %) Three 5 ( 10.0 %) Four or more 10 ( 20.0 %) Currently receiving SNAP benefits No 35 ( 70.0 %) Yes 15 ( 30.0 %) Currently receiving SSI or SSDI benefits No 32 ( 64.0 %) Yes 18 ( 36.0 %) FOOD PANTRY USE
How many times in the past 30 days did you obtain food from food pantries ? ( Median , IQR )
For how long have you obtained food from food pantries ?
2.0 ( 1.0-2.5 )
More than 5 years 12 ( 24.0 %) Between 2-5 years 18 ( 36.0 %) Between 1-2 years 7 ( 14.0 %) Between 6 months and 1 year 5 ( 10.0 %) Less than 6 months 8 ( 16.0 %)
Note . IQR = interquartile range ; SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ; SSI = Social Security Income ; SSDI = Social Security Disability Insurance
173 • The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society www . ArkMed . org