Who Uses Food Banks and Other Private Food Charities? A Comparison with SNAP Users

ABSTRACT This study was designed to identify households’ characteristics associated with participation in private food charities compared to those associated with participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This cross-sectional study used data from the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and generalized and multiple linear regression models. Participants in SNAP and private food charities were found to differ across several sociodemographic characteristics. Overall, households who use private food charities were found to be older and poorer relative to SNAP households.