Feasibility of Delivering an on-Campus Food Distribution Program in a Community College Setting: A Mixed Methods Sequential Explanatory Investigation

Daphne C. Hernandez, Sajeevika S. Daundasekara, Quenette L. Walton, Chinyere Y. Eigege and Allison N. Marshall
Additional contact information
Daphne C. Hernandez: Cizik School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Sajeevika S. Daundasekara: Cizik School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Quenette L. Walton: Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA
Chinyere Y. Eigege: Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, USA
Allison N. Marshall: Cizik School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-23

Abstract: Despite community college students experiencing food insecurity there has been a dearth of research conducted on the feasibility of providing a program designed to increase access to fruits and vegetables among community colleges. This study used a mixed methods sequential explanatory design to examine the feasibility of delivering an on-campus food distribution program (FDP) to community college students and to examine the association between FDP and food insecurity and dietary intake. The study also explored the student’s experiences related to barriers and facilitators of program utilization. In phase one, the FDP occurred for eight months and students could attend twice per month, receiving up to 60 pounds of food per visit. Online questionnaires were used to collect students’ food security and dietary intake. Among the 1000 students offered the FDP, 495 students enrolled, with 329 students (66.5%) attending ≥ 1. Average attendance = 3.27 (SD = 3.08) [Range = 1–16] distributions. The FDP did not reduce food insecurity nor improve dietary intake. In phase two, a subsample of students ( n = 36) discussed their FDP experiences through focus groups revealing three barriers limiting program utilization: program design and organization, personal schedule and transportation, and program abuse by other attendees. Facilitators to greater program utilization included: the type of food distributed and welcoming environment, along with allowing another designated individual to collect food. To maximize program use, it is suggested that reported barriers be addressed, which might positively influence food insecurity and dietary intake.

Keywords: dietary intake; focus groups; food insecurity; food pantry; fruits and vegetables; nutrition; program use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/22/12106/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/22/12106/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:12106-:d:681959

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().