K A S H R U T . C O M_©

OU leads policy changes after kosher-food insecurity study

April 17, 2024 - from the JNS:

Gemiluth Chessed of Greater New York (GCGNY) commissioned a study on the experience of food insecurity. "The study was conducted by Baltimore’s Jewish Nonprofit Planning and Research Institute (JNPRI),"

"Over a three month period beginning in January 2024, JNPRI surveyed 492 individuals who observe kosher at home and face food insecurity. Questions in English and Russian touched upon household demographics, eating and shopping habits, and the food support resources and organizations respondents find most helpful.

"Michelle Shain is JNPRI’s director of research and the study’s author. She says the goal was to highlight the different needs and experiences across New York City and in households with different social and demographic characteristics, and to use those demographic differences to understand where some of the challenges originate.

"She points to the following data acquired from the JNPRI study: there was no single type of chicken, meat or fish that was a staple protein for all respondents; more than half of participants relayed that they are unwilling to eat unfamiliar foods in order to save money, suggesting that when resources are scarce, other priorities get shortchanged; and finally, one third of respondents live with someone who has a dietary restriction, like lactose intolerance.

"Sixty-one percent of participants said they would feel more comfortable going to a food pantry or community kitchen if there were more foods that meet their preferences or dietary needs.

"Respondents value forms of food assistance that allow them to purchase foods that meet their individual preferences and dietary restrictions. Survey respondents were 66% more likely to say grocery gift cards were “essential” in ensuring that they have enough to eat every month than to say that food pantries were essential. These include the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which offers monthly debit cards and grocery gift cards.

"Another critical takeaway of the report was that time and mobility constraints prevent some from accessing both low-cost retail food as well as food banks and community kitchens. Whereas only half of those who are food insecure choose their primary grocery store because of pricing, the rest select stores based on their location’s accessibility, hours, and convenience — whether they are one-stop-shops, or delivery is offered, for example.

"About half of the respondents also maintain they’d be more comfortable visiting a food pantry or community kitchen if it had extended hours, shorter lines or were situated in more convenient and discrete locations.

"The OU’s Department of Community Projects and Partnerships is currently working on piloting different solutions based on the data, including kosher protein distribution and advocacy efforts to get more kosher protein from government programs.

"An OU-initiated partnership with GCGNY, Empire Chicken and City Harvest that was launched in December has enabled the ongoing distribution of 26,000 pounds of kosher chicken at a subsidized cost to New Yorkers struggling to afford kosher meat."