Prior to the pandemic, Laguna Food Pantry in California operated much like a conventional grocery store, allowing customers to select the food they needed. After the outbreak of Covid-19, they, like many food banks, switched to drive-through distribution with pre-packaged bags. Executive Director, Anne Belyea, has stated they have no plans to revert to their previous system.

This new approach to food distribution, though seemingly at odds with the dignity of choice, has allowed pantries to cater to a greater number of people in less time. This efficiency has become crucial as visits to food pantries remain high, if not higher than during Covid, due to inflation. At Laguna Food Pantry, the drive-through system has enabled them to serve between 150 and 250 households daily, compared to 80 to 100 previously.

Daily Bread Food Pantry in Danbury, Connecticut, also adjusted its operations due to the pandemic, serving many more through its outdoor farmers’ market-style setup. They provide three pre-packed bags of food, totaling 45 pounds, to up to 250 guests in a two-hour window, compared to serving 65 indoors previously. Elements of choice are still incorporated, such as options for produce-only or no-pork boxes at Laguna, and the opportunity for clients to reject items at Daily Bread.

The concept of “client choice” has evolved to include the method of food receipt. Daily Bread offers three modes of distribution: outdoor farmers’ markets, home deliveries, and indoor shopping for seniors by appointment.

Another organization embracing the changing nature of “choice” is the West Side Campaign Against Hunger (WSCAH). Though it championed the concept of client choice in the 1990s with a grocery-store-style pantry, it now partners with community groups to distribute pre-packaged food bags in an effort to meet the increasing food needs in New York City. They aim to achieve “high-tech choice” with the Digital Choice Project, where clients can select food options via a texting platform and have customized boxes delivered.

Despite the shift towards outdoor and drive-through distributions, some pantries, like Today’s Harvest in Minnesota and FISH of Washington, continue to allow clients to browse and select pantry items, receiving positive responses. Thus, the concept of choice in food distribution continues to evolve to meet changing needs and circumstances.