Experiences of increased food insecurity, economic, and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic among SNAP-enrolled food pantry clients

ABSTRACT Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic initially doubled the rates of food insecurity across the United States, and tripled rates among households with children. Despite the association among food insecurity, chronic disease and psychological distress, narratives depicting the experiences of already-food insecure populations are notably underrepresented in the literature. This study assessed the impact of COVID-19 on clients of a food pantry who were also enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Design: A qualitative study probing the effects of the pandemic on daily living, food needs, food buying, and food insecurity. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a combined deductive and inductive approach. Setting: Interviews were conducted via telephone between May-June of 2020. Participants: Equal numbers of English- and Spanish-speaking clients (n=40 total). Results: Three main findings emerged: (1) The pandemic increased economic distress, such as from job loss or increased utility bills due to sustained home occupancy; (2) The pandemic increased food needs, food prices and food shortages. In combination with economic stressors, this led to greater food insecurity; (3) Increased economic stress and food insecurity contributed to increased psychological stress, such as from fear of infection, isolation, and children being confined at home. Conclusions: Despite federal legislation and state and local programs to alleviate food insecurity, COVID-19 exacerbated economic hardship, food insecurity, and psychological distress among urban SNAP and food pantry clients. Additional research is needed to identify the most effective policies and programs to ameliorate the short- and long-term health and economic inequities exacerbated by the pandemic.

Responding to Intergenerational Food Security and Nutrition Education Needs With Remote Programming

In-person intergenerational programming focused on nutrition education and healthy food access among older adults and preschool children in care settings was abandoned last year when COVID forced center closures. Food for a Long Life (FFLL), a 5-year community-based participatory research (CBPR) project, re-oriented programming in response to heightened community food insecurity and social isolation during COVID. With county Extension agents, FFLL modified and initiated new partnerships to expand food pantry services for several hundred families and deliver nutrition programming to youth (n=28) and older adult (n=130) participants in two states. In this presentation we share how the CBPR method supported adaptive programming and evaluation while continuing to advance project goals, including to promote the sustainability of an intergenerational food pantry and nutrition programming delivery after funding ends in summer 2021.

The HOME Study: Understanding How College Students at a Hispanic Serving Institution Coped with Food Insecurity in a Pandemic

College students represent a unique population of adults, who may be more likely to experience food insecurity due to their transient circumstances, limited access to resources, and increased educational expenses. But little is known about how college students and their households mitigate food insecurity, particularly during a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. The Household Observations of Meals and Environments (HOME) Study described how college students in the US utilized multilevel resources, including an on-campus food pantry, to maintain food security during the pandemic. A convenience sample of college students (n = 18) were recruited from an on-campus food pantry and provided quantitative and qualitative data through online surveys and in-depth Zoom interviews. Survey data were analyzed to describe sociodemographic characteristics. In-depth interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically to identify emergent themes. Social support and the use of an on-campus food pantry were primary factors in maintaining a food security safety net. Students faced barriers when trying to access federal and state food assistance programs and identified multilevel resources, their food security, and the role of social support as facilitators in their perceptions of food insecurity status and experiences. Findings highlight practical implications for research related to on-campus food insecurity interventions and policies to support food security among college students.

Communication strategies to facilitate emergency preparedness for Generation Z and college food pantries: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: There is a paucity of research on college food pantry operations, especially in relation to emergency preparedness and disaster relief. However, there are multiple research studies confirming the efficacy of using social media to communicate with younger adults, especially Generation Z (Gen Z). Methods: This study examines a college food pantry’s social media posts and pantry utilization in a midsize, public university in Texas, prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collegiate food insecurity was analyzed through the lens of the socioecological model. Social media data during the spring 2019 semester were compared using a two-way ANOVA prior to and following the origination of the COVID-19 pandemic within the state, and pantry utilization over the spring 2019 and fall 2020 semesters was evaluated using a t-test.Results: There were significantly more likes per post on Instagram than other social media outlets, and there were significantly more impressions per post on Twitter as opposed to Facebook, with a trend toward more impressions per posts, after COVID-19. There was no significant difference in food pantry utilization between the fall and spring semester aside from a spike after return following the spring recess, confirmed as Grubb’s outlier. Application of the socioecological model emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and multitiered interventions during an emergency, including the use of social media.Conclusion: This information can help collegiate organizations reach more students through targeted posting on select social media platforms used by their students. Interdisciplinary, inclusive approaches are recommended to reduce food insecurity for Gen Z students.