Wow, not updating ResearchBuzz until 11 January is not the way I wanted to start my 2011, but better late than never. Anyway, on
with the show. I was going through my information traps and came across a mention of Ample Harvest ( http://ampleharvest.org/ ), a Web site that lists over 3000 Food pantries across the United States. (For the purpose of this Web site, “Food pantries” are defined as sites which distribute food directly to persons who need it, while “Food banks” are those sites which gather food in bulk and distribute it to food pantries and other places that in turn get it to the consumer.) The site is for gardeners to find food pantries to which they can donate overstocks of produce, but there’s enough information on the site to make it useful for people in need or those doing research on social resources.

I did a search for food pantries within 25 miles of 90210. I got about 20 results. Results are presented in a Google Map with a little bit of contact information; click the “More Information and Directions” link and you’ll get a site page, but the information varies depending on how much information the pantry provides. The Burbank Temporary Aid Center, for example, has contact information and donation times, while the Friends In Deed Food Pantry also lists what nonperishable food items are most needed and what items can’t be accepted.

In addition to the pantry information, there’s a brief but well-annotated link list about fighting hunger in the US, and links to all the State Cooperative Extension Web Sites.