The Other Half: An Examination of Monthly Food Pantry Cycles in the Context of SNAP Benefits

This study contributes to the growing literature on household resource allocation across time by examining monthly cycles of food pantry visitation. This study uses 13 years of data from over 40,000 households who visited the Food Bank for Larimer County in Northern Colorado. Analysis reveals that pantry visitation fluctuates dramatically by day of the month and is highest at the end of the month among the general pantry client population. Further analysis examines these monthly cycles with consideration for the Colorado SNAP distribution schedule, with results that suggest pantry visitation increases when SNAP benefits run out. JEL CLASSIFICATION D15 (Intertemporal Household Choice); Q18 (Food Policy)

Automated summary

This study examines monthly cycles of food pantry visitation to understand household resource allocation over time. Findings show that pantry visitation fluctuates dramatically by day of the month and is highest at the end of the month, especially when SNAP benefits run out.