Ottawa Food Bank

Research Questions

1. What is the relationship between food security status and health/demographics/needs in our sample?
2. Considering the stated needs of people accessing food programs, do agencies/the network have the capacity to meet those needs?

Data Details

In this repository, you will find two password-protected ZIP files containing survey data:

• Hunger Count

  • Number of Records: 85
  • Number of Fields: 49
  • Files: "Hunger Count.docx" (questionnaire), "Hunger Count.csv" (responses, UTF-8 encoded)

• Neighbour Survey

  • Number of Records: 4086

  • Number of Fields: 136

  • Files: "Neighbour Survey.docx" (questionnaire), "Neighbour Survey.csv" (responses, UTF-8 encoded)

  • Description: Contains information on the needs of people accessing food programs, including food security experiences, financial status, barriers to accessing food programs, non-food services, special food needs, as well as demographics, health conditions, visitor traffic, and comments and feedback.

    Fields Description

    Needs of People Accessing Food Programs

    Questions	Description
    q002 through q008	Food Security Experience and Financial Status-Income
    q014a through q014h	Food Programs Access Barriers
    q017a through q018	Food Programs ‘Non-Food’ Services
    q023a through q024i	Food Programs Special/Unique Food Needs

    Demographics

    Questions	Description
    q025	Age
    q026 through q032	Personal Household Questions
    q033a through q034	Education Level
    q035a through q035b	Status in Canada
    q036a through q036b	Gender
    q037	Time in Canada
    q038a through q038k	Ethnic Background
    q040a through q040b	Housing Situation
    q041a through q041u	Current Employment

    Health

    Questions	Description
    q021a through q021f	Health Conditions
    q039a through q039i	Additional Health Conditions
    q019 through q020	Exercise Habits
    q022	Pregnancy

    Visitor Traffic

    Questions	Description
    q009 through q013	Food Bank / Food Programs Visits
    q015 through q016f	Duration and Mode of Transportation to Food Programs

    Comments

    Questions	Description
    q042	Comments and Feedback

Purpose

This repository aims to facilitate research and analysis related to food security, health demographics, and community needs as observed through surveys conducted by the Ottawa Food Bank. Researchers, analysts, and volunteers interested in understanding and addressing food insecurity issues are encouraged to explore and contribute to this repository.

Thank you for your interest in the Ottawa Food Bank repository. Your contributions can help make a difference in understanding and addressing food insecurity issues in our community.

How to Contribute

1. Fork the Repository

   • Start by forking the main repository to your GitHub account. This creates a personal copy of the repository where you can make changes.

2. Work on Your Project

   • Clone your forked repository to your local machine and begin working on your project. You can analyze the data, create visualizations, or develop models based on the research questions and data provided.

3. Document Your Work

   • Ensure that you document your process, findings, and any code changes. This helps maintain transparency and allows others to understand your contributions.

4. Push Changes to Your Fork

   • Once you have completed your project, push all your changes back to your forked repository on GitHub.

5. Submit a Pull Request

   • Go to the original main repository and submit a pull request from your fork. In your pull request, provide a clear description of your work, including what you have added or changed and how it addresses the research questions or adds value to the project.

6. Review Process

   • The repository maintainers will review your pull request, provide feedback if necessary, and merge it into the main repository. This collaborative process ensures that all contributions are vetted and integrated seamlessly.

7. Track Contributions

   • You can track the status of your pull request and any discussions or reviews in the "Pull Requests" section of the main repository. Stay engaged and respond to any questions or feedback from the maintainers.

By following these steps, you help ensure that contributions are organized, trackable, and integrated effectively. Your participation can significantly aid in the research and understanding of food security issues in our community.

Thank you for contributing to the Ottawa Food Bank repository. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on addressing food insecurity.