* The figures used to calculate the usage shares exclude households that did not answer the question about food pantries or emergency kitchens, in addition to households that did not answer any of the questions in the food security scale.
The term 'emergency kitchen' is synonymous with soup kitchen.
Citation formats
U.S. food pantry and emergency kitchen usage share 2021, by food security status
This statistic shows the share of individuals that used food pantries and emergency kitchens in the United States in 2021, by household food security status. At that time, a *** percent share of individuals from food secure households used food pantries in the United States. Compared to 2020, this figure has declined by *** percent.
The dataset has been discontinued by the source. This content will not be updated. More up-to-date content on the share of people living in food insecurity who receive free meals or groceries can be found here. Data is provided by the same source.
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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Economic Research Service). (September 6, 2021). Share of use of food pantries and emergency kitchens in the United States in 2021, by household food security status* [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 04, 2026, from /statistics/630603/united-states-emergency-kitchen-and-food-pantry-usage-share-by-household-food-security-status/
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Economic Research Service). "Share of use of food pantries and emergency kitchens in the United States in 2021, by household food security status*." Chart. September 6, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 04, 2026. /statistics/630603/united-states-emergency-kitchen-and-food-pantry-usage-share-by-household-food-security-status/
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Economic Research Service). (2021). Share of use of food pantries and emergency kitchens in the United States in 2021, by household food security status*. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 04, 2026. /statistics/630603/united-states-emergency-kitchen-and-food-pantry-usage-share-by-household-food-security-status/
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Economic Research Service). "Share of Use of Food Pantries and Emergency Kitchens in The United States in 2021, by Household Food Security Status*." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 6 Sep 2021, /statistics/630603/united-states-emergency-kitchen-and-food-pantry-usage-share-by-household-food-security-status/
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Economic Research Service), Share of use of food pantries and emergency kitchens in the United States in 2021, by household food security status* ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/630603/united-states-emergency-kitchen-and-food-pantry-usage-share-by-household-food-security-status/ (last visited August 04, 2026)
Share of use of food pantries and emergency kitchens in the United States in 2021, by household food security status* [Graph], U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA Economic Research Service), September 6, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/630603/united-states-emergency-kitchen-and-food-pantry-usage-share-by-household-food-security-status/
