College Campus Food Pantry Program Evaluation: What Barriers Do Students Face to Access On-Campus Food Pantries?

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore barriers Texas Woman’s University (TWU) students face in accessing on-campus food pantries. This cross-sectional, survey-based study was conducted in Fall 2021. Students’ use of the food pantries and barriers to utilization, including qualitative questions, were evaluated using descriptive statistics and thematic analyses. Students (n = 529) completed the survey. Despite a high prevalence of food insecurity (49.2%), most students reported never using the pantries (89.8%). Almost half of the students were unaware that these pantries existed on campus (47.8%). More than one in four students believed there were barriers to accessing the pantries, with time tissues, lack of transportation, limited food pantry hours of operation, and social stigma most commonly cited as major barriers to access. Food insecurity remains an urgent problem at TWU since the prevalence has remained high since 2019 despite the institutions’ efforts to reduce it. One of those resources has not been utilized as expected, which might impede improvements in food security among students. TWU on-campus food pantries can use these findings to address major barriers by offering after-hours access through the libraries or campus police, partnering with public transportation, and normalizing accessing food assistance.

Advancing college food security: priority research gaps

“…Many students have access to campus and community programming for food security (local food pantries and emergency food providers); however, uptake of these programmes may be low on some campuses due to lack of awareness of programme existence (33,34) , and student concerns that others in the community may need the resources more than they do. Similar to the first research gap, this is another reason researchers should strive to conduct representative surveys with high response rates to identify target populations most in need of resources.…”

“…Even when programmes or initiatives addressing food insecurity are present on campus, stigma is a commonly reported barrier that can prevent students from utilising these resources (34,85,88) . Stigma surrounding the use of programmes is not unique to higher education institutions (89) .…”

A Critical Race Theory Assessment of Law Student Needs

“…While many schools have basic food pantries, they should go beyond a locked room full of cans (Coffino et al, 2021; Nazmi et al, 2019). Instead, food pantries should be accessible to the students they seek to serve—open long hours or 24 hours, without an appointment or sign-in requirement, and on various parts of campus (not just one location that may be difficult for law students to access) (Brito-Silva et al, 2022). Drawing from the CRT literature and a focus on racial equity (providing distinct groups differing things, depending on their needs), food pantries should stock not only canned goods but also gift cards that will enable students from varying backgrounds to purchase their own traditional/ethnic foods and fresh fruits and vegetables, or otherwise have agency over their food consumption even when faced with food insecurity.…”

The Design and Testing of a Text Message for use as an Informational Nudge in a Novel Food Insecurity Intervention

“…A study that examined the impact of barriers to food assistance resources have highlighted how the prevalence of food insecurity was higher among individuals who experienced barriers to accessing food assistance in comparison to those who reported no barriers [27]. In a separate study, it was determine that individuals who were experiencing food insecurity had greater odds of encountering barriers to accessing food assistance when compared to those who were food secure [28].…”