TY - THES AB - The economic recession of 2008 intensified the effects of poverty for low-income Americans. The subsequent recovery has not improved their lives. Many are left with little choice but to rely on the emergency food assistance network as a normal part of their strategy to supplement monthly food shortfalls. Government assistance, which comes primarily in the form of SNAP benefits, are not enough for food insecure people to access food throughout the entire month. The new normal is that food banks fill the gap left, each month, when government benefits run out. Can the food bank network meet this increase in demand and is it secure enough to be the consistent food source for those people that will depend on it for years to come. This thesis reviews the food security network and its ability to secure itself to meet the increased and persistent demand of post-recession food insecurity. It examines who food banks serve, how they have met the challenges of the new normal, and the innovative ways they are trying to produce their own food supply. It will also highlight the benefits of growing their own food. AU - Griffen, Sara DA - 2015 DO - 10.6083/dj52w5412 DO - DOI ID - 7693 KW - Food Assistance KW - United States Department of Agriculture KW - Food Assistance L1 - https://digitalcollections.ohsu.edu/record/7693/files/Griffen.Sara.2015.pdf L2 - https://digitalcollections.ohsu.edu/record/7693/files/Griffen.Sara.2015.pdf L4 - https://digitalcollections.ohsu.edu/record/7693/files/Griffen.Sara.2015.pdf LK - https://digitalcollections.ohsu.edu/record/7693/files/Griffen.Sara.2015.pdf N2 - The economic recession of 2008 intensified the effects of poverty for low-income Americans. The subsequent recovery has not improved their lives. Many are left with little choice but to rely on the emergency food assistance network as a normal part of their strategy to supplement monthly food shortfalls. Government assistance, which comes primarily in the form of SNAP benefits, are not enough for food insecure people to access food throughout the entire month. The new normal is that food banks fill the gap left, each month, when government benefits run out. Can the food bank network meet this increase in demand and is it secure enough to be the consistent food source for those people that will depend on it for years to come. This thesis reviews the food security network and its ability to secure itself to meet the increased and persistent demand of post-recession food insecurity. It examines who food banks serve, how they have met the challenges of the new normal, and the innovative ways they are trying to produce their own food supply. It will also highlight the benefits of growing their own food. PB - Marylhurst University: Oregon Health and Science University PY - 2015 T1 - Growing food banks - securing the food insecurity network TI - Growing food banks - securing the food insecurity network UR - https://digitalcollections.ohsu.edu/record/7693/files/Griffen.Sara.2015.pdf Y1 - 2015 ER -