(P12-002-23) Food Insecurity and Campus Food Pantry Use Among College Students During and Post the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Objectives: To explore the perceptions and experiences of college students and key informants towards campus food pantries in a historically Black College and University (HBCU) and their potential impact on students’ food security status during and post the pandemic. 

Methods: Exploratory study with a descriptive qualitative design. The study was conducted in a HBCU in a Southeastern state in the US after securing ethical approval. Study participants included key informants and students (n = 10). Data collection started mid-summer 2022 and is ongoing. Recruitment of key informants was conducted using snowball sampling, whereas recruitment of students was done using email invitations, flyers and social media channels. Recorded interviews with students and key informants to date were transcribed and thematically analyzed. 

Results: Main emergent themes from interviews with key informants and students included: Food insecurity and limited nutrition literacy among campus pantry users (theme 1); overall positive effects of campus pantry included alleviation of food insecurity and reduction of stress and anxiety among users (theme 2). Respondents highlighted peer influence and limited finances/resources among the main motivators for access to the pantry services (theme 3); while barriers included persistent fear of stigma among users and challenges related to accessibility of the pantry services during and post the COVID-19 pandemic (theme 4). Strategies to improve campus pantries’ operations, visibility, and type of food offered were also highlighted among key informants. Key informants and student respondents also highlighted the need to incorporate nutrition education to improve students’ food literacy while increasing their access to nutritious, convenient, and appealing food (theme 5). 

Conclusions: Campus pantries can help alleviate food insecurity among college students in a HBCU. Novel strategies are needed to overcome persistent barriers and help facilitate access to healthy food and beverage options within campus pantries while increasing food literacy of minority college students. 

Funding Sources: This study received seed funding from the College of Health and Sciences at the North Carolina Central University.