Check out Katie’s Book for Inspiration

Themes from Katie Martin’s book Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries help inform the work of More Than Food Consulting. In her book, Katie argues that if handing out more and more food was the answer, we would have solved the problem of hunger decades ago. Katie instead presents a new model for charitable food, one where success is measured not by pounds of food distributed but by lives changed. The key is to focus on the root causes of hunger. When we shift our attention to strategies that build empathy, equity, and political will, we can implement real solutions.

Katie shares those solutions in a warm, engaging style, with simple steps that anyone working or volunteering at a food bank or pantry can take today. Some are short-term strategies to create a more dignified experience for food pantry clients: providing full choice where guests select their own food, or redesigning a waiting room with better seating and a designated greeter. Some are longer-term: increasing the supply of healthy food, offering job training programs, or connecting guests to other social services. And some are big picture: joining the fight for living wages and a stronger social safety net.