Mapping the Equity of U.S. Food Bank Resources through a Food Bank Census
Overview
Using geospatial analysis, this research will examine patterns in food bank locations, public tax records, and county demographics. This research involves building the first U.S. census of food banks. Myself and a team of undergraduate research assistants are working to complete a national food bank census that builds on a pilot study of nine states. Pilot findings indicate inequitable access to food bank resources based on rurality and race. This research aims to discover if these patterns persist across a larger portion of the U.S. The research findings will have important implications for understanding the equitability of access to the charitable safety net.
Active Research Assitants
Annalise Frodermann
Annalise is a senior at Creighton University studying Public Health with minors in French and Biology. She plans on pursuing a Master's in Public Health and working as an epidemiologist in the future. Outside of school, she enjoys playing lacrosse, thrift shopping, and trying new restaurants.
Isabelle Krob
Isabelle is a student at Creighton University, majoring in sociology and minoring in philosophy. She is on the pre-law path, interested in learning more about how the legal system interacts with social institutions in our society. In her free time, she enjoys trying new coffee shops, reading, and exploring Omaha with friends.
Kela Seavey
Kela is a Health Administration and Policy student attending Creighton University. She is planning on pursuing a future career in the medical field as a physician. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, working, listening to music, and going to the gym.
Daniel Zacher
Daniel is a junior at Creighton University, double-majoring in Sociology and Justice & Society. His research interests include urban sociology, food justice, gender, and environmental issues. After graduation, he intends to pursue graduate studies in sociology or a career in law. In his free time, he enjoys playing music, tennis, pickleball, and losing to his friends at cribbage.
Past Research Assistants
Sophia Flores
Sophia graduated from UC Davis in 2022 with a Sociology major. She is interested in research related to education, criminology, and food disparity. She is planning on pursuing a career related to administrative social work. She enjoys reading and hiking in her spare time.
Kymberley Chu
Kymberley Chu graduated in 2021 from the University of California, Davis double majoring in Anthropology and International Relations. Kymberley aspires to pursue academic research and PhD programs that examine social issues such as the psychology of racism. She enjoys reading, coding, weightlifting and making mind maps in her free time.
Valeria Hernandez
Valeria Hernandez graduated from the University of California Davis in 2020 with a sociology and Spanish double major with an emphasis in law and society. Her future goals revolve around housing inequality and food disparities within the United States. Throughout her undergraduate career, she focused on being able to give back to the community. Her upcoming goals revolve around obtaining her masters in social work, and one day look more into the field of law.
Jeffrey Lee
Jeffrey graduated in 2022 from the University of California, Davis double majoring in Sociology - Organizational Studies and Community and Regional Development. He is interested in pursuing a career in nonprofit development. He enjoys making Spotify playlists, going to concerts, and traveling alone in his free time.
Reyna Morabe
Reyna Morabe graduated from UC Davis in 2021 with a double major in Sociology Organizational Studies and Economics. She was a peer educator intern for the Center for Leadership Learning, a member of the student-run organization UCD Mental Health Initiative, a member of the Underrepresented Minorities in Economics Society, and a research assistant in the Sociology department. She is passionate about learning ways to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into her work.