from the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development |
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JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by Kate Killion (Allied Health Sciences, U of Connecticut), Brenda Lituma-Solis (Allied Health Sciences, U of Connecticut), Lisbeth Lucas-Moran (Allied Health Sciences, U of Connecticut), Daniela Avelino (Allied Health Sciences, U of Connecticut), Caitlin Smith (Allied Health Sciences, U of Connecticut), Caitlyn Caspi (Allied Health Sciences, U of Connecticut), Molly Waring (Allied Health Sciences, U of Connecticut), Mike Puglisi (Nutritional Sciences, U of Connecticut), Ock Chun (Allied Health Sciences, U of Connecticut), Valerie Duffy (Allied Health Sciences, U of Connecticut).
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted local and national changes to food programs, including increased ability to order groceries online with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Yet, achieving health equity through healthy eating remains difficult for individuals in under resourced communities due to limited healthy food access, rising food costs, and obstacles to using online grocery ordering.
In a new JAFSCD article, Stakeholder perceptions of healthy food access and SNAP online grocery ordering during and after COVID-19, Kate E. Killion, Brenda Lituma-Solis, Lisbeth Lucas-Moran, Daniela C. Avelino, Caitlin Smith, Caitlin Caspi, Molly E. Waring, Michael Puglisi, Ock K. Chun, and Valerie B. Duffy present findings from qualitative interviews in a low-income, low food access Connecticut to (1) explore community stakeholders’ perceptions of food access and online grocery ordering with SNAP benefits during and after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and (2) synthesize equity-oriented recommendations to improve healthy food access. Corresponding author Valerie Duffy can be contacted at valerie.duffy@uconn.edu.
KEY FINDINGS
Although stakeholders describe a community with a rich, collaborative network of social service agencies seeking to improve local food access, resident food access is challenged by lack of sufficient public transportation, barriers to accessing foods that meet cultural food patterns, growing food costs, and declining food assistance benefits, especially with the termination of SNAP emergency allotments.
Stakeholders also described mixed opinions about online ordering with SNAP benefits, noting online ordering fees, technology access, and digital literacy as barriers to adoption. Healthy food access and online ordering barriers may be addressed by equity-aligned individual and PSE change interventions
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH The following model aligns with Kumanyika’s Getting to Equity framework (2019) and provides health equity-aligned recommendations for low food access communities to increase healthy food and online grocery ordering access. SHARE ON YOUR SOCIALS
From the intersection of SNAP benefits, COVID-19, and the food bank system: “Just had quite a few people that come up to the truck and they say, man, I just lost my food stamps. Over and over again. Just saying, you know, I have nothing, you know, I’m so glad you came, that type of thing. On a daily basis.”—Food Bank Program Specialist, 2023. Can online ordering help reach more people facing food insecurity? @UConn #onlineordering #foodpantry #foodinsecurity Read the entire @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.143.026
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Photo above: Image provided by authors. |
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JAFSCD peer-reviewed article by John C. Jones, Lauren Linkous, Lisa Mathews-Ailsworth, Reyna Vazquez-Miller, Elizabeth Chance, Jackie Carter, Issac Saneda, Youngmi Kim, and Leland “Bert” Waters (all at Virginia Commonwealth U)
College students across the U.S. face high rates of food insecurity that negatively affect their health, academic performance, and graduation outcomes. Traditional campus food pantries help meet this need—but stigma and access issues remain barriers for many students.
In a new JAFSCD article, Lessons learned from piloting decentralized, smart miniature food pantries to mitigate college student food insecurity, researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) reflect on a multiyear pilot program that deployed smart-enabled miniature food pantries across VCU’s campuses. These small, 24/7-accessible food pantries offered anonymous emergency food access, supported by a network of students, staff, and a formal partnership with the regional food bank. The team shares insights on overcoming institutional, technological, and logistical hurdles in implementing this model of decentralized emergency food assistance. Corresponding author John C. Jones can be contacted at jonesj39@vcu.edu.
KEY FINDINGS
Miniature food pantries in high-traffic, visible campus locations received the most usage, showing strong demand for discreet, accessible emergency food support. A partnership with the regional food bank was crucial for sustaining pantry operations and minimizing strain on the main campus pantry.
Transitioning to a monthly “Adopt-a-Pantry” model, where campus departments take responsibility for nearby pantries, significantly reduced logistical burdens and improved sustainability.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH Monthly deliveries to departmental “Adopt-a-Pantry” partners are more sustainable than centralized weekly distribution. Use of paid student labor, rather than volunteers or service learners, enhances reliability—but regular oversight is still needed. Invest early in campus relationships—including risk management, information technology (IT), ADA compliance, and communications—to navigate implementation barriers. Avoid access restrictions or “deservingness” criteria that could deter usage; universal, anonymous access reduces stigma and broadens reach. - Consider backend data infrastructure that protects user privacy while supporting real-time monitoring and evaluation.
This reflective essay offers a roadmap for institutions aiming to pilot or scale similar decentralized pantry models, and it underscores the importance of aligning food access initiatives with broader student success strategies.
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Mini food pantries, major impact: Virginia Commonwealth University’s pilot project shows promise in fighting student hunger. Although U.S. college students face high rates of food insecurity, stigma and access issues remain barriers for many students. @VCU #foodinsecurity #collegestudents #foodpantry Read the @JAFSCD article for free: https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2025.143.024
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Photo above: Figure 1 from the article: An entire month of food was distributed to a partner (in this case, the Life Sciences Department) around the first day of the month, generally in a large plastic tote containing four bags, each with a week’s worth of food. Someone from the administrative group, usually a student worker under the supervision of a full-time staff member, would restock the pantry from the tote using one bag per week. Photo provided.
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