Sociospatial Analysis of Food Pantry Access and Location in a Southwestern Frontier Community

ABSTRACT We explore the relationship between food insecurity and geographic position in Silver City, NM. Using a survey of more than 100 respondents and desktop GIS analysis, we investigate whether distance, neighborhood, and socioeconomic status have a bearing on access and use of food pantries. Results indicate there is no pronounced relationship between recipience of government benefits and food pantry use, recipience of government benefits and neighborhood of residence, or household income and self-reported distance to a food pantry. Results may appear counterintuitive: Food pantry use has increased in the USA, but the profile of a pantry client is not axiomatic.