Title: The Pathways study: a cohort study of new food-aid users in rural, semi-urban, and urban areas of Quebec, Canada

Granting agency: CIHR and the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services

Period: 3 years

In Canada, hunger compromises the health and well-being of approximately one in eight households. Food banks are well-known for trying to address this issue, but they are not without controversy. Some believe they are part of the problem because they undermine the adoption of poverty-fighting policies. Others see them as a gateway to other community services that help people overcome their difficulties.

The Pathways study was established to investigate the long-term effects of food donation programs on food insecurity as well as other critical outcomes, such as diet, health, and social support. Herein, we describe the design of the Pathways Study and the participants’ characteristics at baseline.