Is in-kind kinder than cash? The impact of money vs. food aid on social emotions and aid take-up.

Over the past decade, there has been a shift in the way charities deliver humanitarian aid. Historically, the most prevalent way to help the global poor was by providing in-kind asset transfers. Recently, alternatives to in-kind aid, such as cash aid, have been increasing in prevalence. Although there has been widespread endorsement from the academic community and the public on the popularizing model of giving cash aid, one perspective remains untouched: the recipient's perspective. Thus, the present research explores how food-insecure individuals feel when receiving money vs. in-kind food aid to help meet their hunger and nutrition needs. Specifically, we explore the degree of positive (e.g., feeling cared for) and negative (e.g., feeling ashamed) social emotions felt when receiving the aid opportunity and how willing recipients are to accept monetary (vs. food) aid. Results from five preregistered experiments (N = 3,110)-a field experiment in Kenya and four online experiments in the United States-find that monetary (vs. food) aid elicits comparatively more of a market-pricing relationship and less of a communal sharing relationship and, hence, makes people feel less positive and more negative social emotions when receiving the help. Subsequently, recipients are less likely to take up monetary (vs. food) aid from a charity. However, we find that this effect does not persist when receiving government aid: Recipients are similarly willing to accept money and in-kind food aid from the government. This research suggests that future scholarship ought to examine ways to improve psychological experiences when receiving money from charity.

Food security intervention mechanisms in the drought-prone rural areas of Tigray.

Introduction: Tigray is one of the food-insecure regions with many people living under the condition of chronic hunger. Proper intervention mechanisms are vital for addressing food insecurity. Yet, food security intervention mechanisms of various levels are not researched well. Besides, previous studies have rarely addressed the objectives of food security intervention mechanisms in relation to the four pillars of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability. Thus, this study aims to investigate the food security intervention mechanisms in the drought-prone rural areas of Tigray in relation with the major components of food security. Methodology: This study has employed a cross-sectional study design based on a mixed research approach with primary and secondary data. For this, 363 households from three selected drought-prone rural districts, i.e., Atsbi-wenberta, Irob, and Hintalo- wejerat were studied. Primary data were collected using questionnaires and key-informant interviews. And, secondary data were collected from relevant archives and policy documents. The obtained data were analyzed descriptively and content-wise. Results: Findings show that there were several international interventions intended to halt food insecurity sustainably through financial aid, but many of the interventions were found to be responding to humanitarian crises mainly the food shortages. Ethiopia's Food and Nutrition Policy, Food Security Program, Food Security Strategy, and Food Security Pack program were the food security intervention mechanisms at the national level. These interventions were found to be inconsistent with each other in their intended goals. Regionally, no food security strategy or program was found intervening to the prevailing food insecurity in Tigray. More notably, the region has no food security bureau or office that deals with food security issues of the region. At a community level, food aid, and PSNP transfers have been the usual food security intervention mechanisms. 35.6% (77,010) of the population in the study rural districts were found to be rural PSNP beneficiaries. The food aid and PSNP transfers were outrageously insufficient for the recipients to cope with food insecurity. Conclusion: Intervention mechanisms should focus on enhancing vulnerable households' coping and adaptive capacities to deal with food security problems. In this regard, all the food security intervention mechanisms of various levels should be integrated into the common goal of achieving food security.

Meal plans for meeting the reference values using food items available in shelters.

BACKGROUND: We have suggested "Revised Nutritional Reference Values for Feeding at Evacuation Shelters" (Revised RV) as a daily nutritional recommendation for meals served at evacuation shelters where poor diets had been reported. Since there are no meal examples to satisfy the Revised RV, our objectives were, for the future meal provision, to develop nutritionally adequate meal plans using the foods served at shelters in the past and to examine if the Revised RV could be met by changing combination of foods available. METHODS: In this case study using secondary data, we analyzed food weights of 86 meals served and recorded at 12 shelters after the heavy rains in July 2020. We obtained these data from Kumamoto Prefecture that was damaged and asked us dietary assessment for nutrition assistance. Foods were classified into 3 types according to the check mark in the record sheets: food aid (commercial packaged food), boxed meal, and hot meal service. We counted serving frequency of each food and analyzed nutritional differences by their combinations. Menus were devised by choosing foods that were served more frequently or were more nutritious among those served at shelters. The target values for one meal were set at 1/3 of the Revised RV for energy, protein, vitamins B1, B2, and C, and salt. RESULTS: None of the meals served in the shelters satisfied the target. We created 2 menus using food aid only: (#1 curry doughnut, milk with long shelf-life, and orange jelly) and (#2 salmon rice ball, ham and cheese sandwich, and vegetable juice); 1 menu by combination of boxed meal and food aid: (#3 boxed meal and vegetable juice); and 2 menus by combination of hot meal service and food aid: (#4 chicken meatball soup, packaged tofu, soy sauce, preprocessed white rice, and bottled green tea) and (#5 bamboo shoots rice, chicken and vegetable miso soup, and bottled green tea). Planned menus generally contained more energy, protein, and vitamins and less salt than the meals served. Their vitamin C contents were especially higher. CONCLUSION: Nutritionally adequate meals could be planned by changing the combination of foods available in shelters.

Older People in Emergencies; Addressing Food Insecurity, Health Status and Quality of Life: Evaluating the "365+ Days of Care" Program.

During emergencies, older adults stand among the most vulnerable, facing long-lasting food insecurity and overall health issues. The "365+ Days of Care" food aid program addressed food insecurity and poor quality of life among vulnerable older adults following a devastating wildfire in Greece. Our aim was to evaluate the program's efficiency, using a process evaluation framework and a partial cost-utility analysis. In total, n = 133 wildfire-hit residents (≥65 years) received daily tailored, pre-cooked meals and/or weekly food packages. The study outcomes were assessed from baseline to 12 months later. Focus groups and interviews (n = 30), researcher observations, and questionnaires were used to assess the beneficiaries' perception of the initiative. Within the 12-month follow-up period, food insecurity and malnutrition risk decreased, whereas Mediterranean diet adherence; quality of life; and physical, social, and mental health were improved (p < 0.05). A one-point increase in food insecurity was positively associated with improved quality of life, general health, limitation in activities, body pain, vitality, and pain/discomfort (p's < 0.05), and it was marginally associated with mobility, anxiety/depression, and self-evaluated health status (p's < 0.1). Quantitative and qualitative data characterized it as successful, acceptable, beneficial, and of high quality. The partial cost-utility ratio was one QALY gained per EUR 22.608. The utilization of well-designed food aid programs during emergencies can alleviate food insecurity and improve quality of life in older adults.

Barriers, opportunities, and potential costs of expanding HIV support services.

Experiencing housing instability, food insecurity, and financial stress can negatively impact retention in care and treatment adherence for people living with HIV. Expanding services that support socioeconomic needs could help improve HIV outcomes. Our objective was to investigate barriers, opportunities, and costs of expanding socioeconomic support programs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with organizations serving U.S. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clients. Costs were estimated from interviews, organization documents, and city-specific wages. Organizations reported complex patient, organization, program, and system challenges as well as several opportunities for expansion. The average one-year per-person cost for engaging new clients was $196 for transportation, $612 for financial aid, $650 for food aid, and $2498 for short-term housing (2020 USD). Understanding potential expansion costs is important for funders and local stakeholders. This study provides a sense of magnitude for costs to scale-up programs to better meet socioeconomic needs of low-income patients living with HIV.

The coping continuum and acts reciprocity - a qualitative enquiry about household coping with food insecurity in Victoria, Australia.

OBJECTIVE: Food insecurity exists when a household has limited or uncertain access to food. This paper explores the strategies employed by households who are already accessing emergency and community food assistance to meet their food needs. METHOD: Interviews to explore strategies used to mitigate food insecurity of people living in Victoria, Australia, between June 2018 and January 2019. Data were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Seventy-eight interviews were conducted. Analysis resulted in two themes highlighting the range of coping strategies employed to mitigate the impacts of food insecurity; broadly described as 1) the coping continuum and 2) coping reciprocity. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecure households employ a range of strategies to secure food. Households that engage with the emergency and community food sector are described as in crisis or struggling, often skipping meals or reducing food consumed, or as coping and managing, characterised by bulking meals and growing food. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Coping with food insecurity exists on a continuum from crisis to management and reciprocity. With the prevalence of food insecurity expected to increase, some of these coping strategies will need to be incorporated into the practice of emergency and community food providers to assist households to meet food needs.

The contributions of religious leaders in addressing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines: A realist evaluation of the Rapid Emergencies and Disasters Intervention (REDI).

To address the unintended consequences of public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., emergency food insecurity, income loss), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have partnered with diverse actors, including religious leaders, to provide humanitarian relief in resource-constrained communities. One such example is the Rapid Emergencies and Disasters Intervention (REDI), which is an NGO-led program in the Philippines that leverages a network of volunteer religious leaders to identify and address emergency food insecurity among households experiencing poverty. Guided by a realist evaluation approach, the objectives of this study were to identify the facilitators and barriers to effective implementation of REDI by religious leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the context and mechanisms that influenced REDI implementation. In total, we conducted 25 virtual semi-structured interviews with religious leaders actively engaged in REDI implementation across 17 communities in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Three main context-mechanism configurations were identified in shaping effective food aid distribution by religious leaders, including program infrastructure (e.g., technical and relational support from partner NGO), social infrastructure (e.g., social networks), and community infrastructure (e.g., community assets as well as a broader enabling environment). Overall, this study contributes insight into how the unique positionality of religious leaders in combination with organizational structures and guidance from a partner NGO shapes the implementation of a disaster response initiative across resource-constrained communities. Further, this study describes how intersectoral collaboration (involving religious leaders, NGOs, and local governments) can be facilitated through an NGO-led disaster response network.

Can nutrition-sensitive intervention and programmes reduce household's food insecurity among the communities affected by Boko-Haram insurgency in Nigeria?

Dwindling food security situations that arose from Boko-haram insurgence experienced in the northeast of Nigeria has led to an urgent need to respond to the food and livelihood requirements of families who were affected by the conflicts in this region. This is necessary in order to enhance their food and nutritional security and livelihood activities. Thus, examining the status of malnutrition of households in the intervening communities is imperative. Therefore, primary data were collected from some selected households within the region using multi-stage sampling procedure. Descriptive statistics, Dietary Diversity Score (DSS), Heckman and Tobit Models were the analytical tools employed. The study revealed that food aid constitutes an integral proportion of the total expenditure of households on food in the intervening communities. Level of malnutrition also reduces from 40.58 to 16.7% due to the impact of the sensitization programme on households' consumption of nutritious foods. However, there is still a high level of malnutrition (68.79%) among the children that are 5 years and below. Social capital formation and group-specific nutritional policy strategies directed at the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and children that are 5 years and below are panacea to reducing malnutrition in the region.

Emergency food distribution efforts in New Orleans, LA after Hurricane Ida.

Background: The provision of food aid after a natural disaster is necessary to prevent hunger, particularly in low-resourced and low-income communities. Little is known about the operational challenges associated with ensuring equitable distribution of emergency food resources to communities in need following a disaster. To address this gap, this study assessed emergency food distribution efforts in New Orleans, LA during the 2 weeks following Hurricane Ida's landfall on August 29, 2021. Methods: Information on free food distribution events was gathered from online sources. A list of distribution sites was generated that included data on operational logistics (e.g., address, days of operation, hours of operation, etc.), food offerings (e.g., prepared meals, groceries, etc.), and socio-demographic characteristics of the surrounding community. Geospatial mapping and bivariate analyses were used to analyze the site data. Results: Seventy-four distribution sites operated in the 2 weeks after Hurricane Ida. Approximately 47.3% were located in census tracts with >80% Black residents, and 39.2% were in tracts with >30% poverty. A large proportion of sites offered prepared meals (86.2%) and only operated 1 day (36.5%). Tracts with >80% Black residents had more sites that operated only 1 day (p = 0.04). Tracts with >30% poverty had more sites that started distributing food resources 7-15 days after the hurricane (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Most low-income and low-resourced communities in New Orleans had access to emergency food resources; however, several limitations in operations were identified that may have influenced access. Future initiatives to prevent hunger after a natural disaster in New Orleans, and elsewhere, should improve operational logistics for food aid.

Nigerian economic policy response to COVID-19: An evaluation of policy actors' views.

COVID-19 has caused economic hardship globally. Several economies are making efforts to cushion these negative effects. Following the lockdown and downward trend of global oil prices, the Nigerian economy has been hard hit. This paper sheds light on policy actors' views vis-à-vis what should be the economic policy response of the Nigerian government to cushion the effects of COVID-19 and ensure quick economic recovery. A multistage random sampling method was used to select and interview 635 policy actors drawn from academia/research institutes, civil society organizations, development partners, international NGOs, national NGOs, the private sector, and the public sector. The study adopted a participatory development approach. Descriptive and deductive analysis methods were used. The results support direct cash transfers to households, and small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) as the policy option that would have huge impact in mitigating the economic effects of COVID-19 in Nigeria. The second most recommended policy option is the eradication of corruption among government officials. The paper recommends that pragmatic actions towards eradicating corrupt practices among government officials should be an integral part of any economic recovery policy in Nigeria and other emerging economies.

COVID­19 ha causado dificultades económicas a nivel mundial. Varias economías están haciendo esfuerzos para amortiguar estos efectos negativos. Tras el bloqueo y la tendencia a la baja de los precios mundiales del petróleo, la economía nigeriana se ha visto muy afectada. Este documento arroja luz sobre las opiniones de los actores políticos con respecto a cuál debería ser la respuesta de política económica del gobierno de Nigeria para amortiguar los efectos de COVID­19 y garantizar una recuperación económica rápida. Se utilizó un método de muestreo aleatorio de etapas múltiples para seleccionar y entrevistar a 635 actores políticos provenientes de instituciones académicas/de investigación, organizaciones de la sociedad civil, socios para el desarrollo, ONG internacionales, ONG nacionales, el sector privado y el sector público. El estudio adoptó un enfoque de desarrollo participativo. Se utilizaron métodos de análisis descriptivo y deductivo. Los resultados respaldan las transferencias directas de efectivo a los hogares y las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYME) como la opción de política que tendría un gran impacto en la mitigación de los efectos económicos de COVID­19 en Nigeria. La segunda opción de política más recomendada es la erradicación de la corrupción entre los funcionarios del gobierno. El documento recomienda que las acciones pragmáticas para erradicar las prácticas corruptas entre los funcionarios del gobierno deben ser una parte integral de cualquier política de recuperación económica en Nigeria y otras economías emergentes.

Current Landscape of Produce Prescription Programs in the US.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the design and implementation models of US produce prescription programs. METHODS: In a mixed-methods study, program providers completed an online survey and an individual phone interview regarding their 2019 programming. RESULTS: Twenty-three programs completed surveys; 20 completed interviews. Program locations included the mid-Atlantic (26%), Northeast (9%), Midwest (30%), Southwest (17%), and Western regions (17%). Although program models varied, programs generally included a health care visit, usually at a safety-net clinic, and nutrition education, typically counseling, advice, or classes. Prescriptions tended to be farmers market vouchers worth a median of $15 a week (interquartile range, $7.81-$20.00). Transportation was a problem for nearly half of the programs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Current produce prescription program characteristics and operations can serve as a blueprint for new and existing programs. Future research should determine program best practices and the opportunity cost between program standardization and local flexibilities.

How COVID-19 impacted surplus food redistribution in the Netherlands: An explorative study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been detrimental to food security globally. The Netherlands, despite its advanced stage of development, saw a surge in food insecurity among its most vulnerable citizens. Dutch food aid is managed by private charities and social organisations that often aim to address the problems of food insecurity and food waste by redistributing surplus food that is safe to consume. This paper investigates how the pandemic impacted surplus food redistribution in the country by employing an Exploratory-Descriptive-Qualitative approach. This is done by analysing data from interviews with relevant stakeholders involved in redistributing surplus food in the Netherlands as well as media reports on the topic. Our findings indicate that the interviewed organisations experienced drastic fluctuations in supply and demand. To cope with these changes, rapid organisational and supply chain innovation was observed. Next to this, there seems to have been disproportionate negative impact on smaller charities in comparison to bigger, better established organisations. Based on our findings, we discuss what the future of surplus food distribution in the Netherlands might look like and why changes made during the pandemic must be well documented and carefully analysed.

Uso de beca estatal de alimentación para estudiantes universitarios según factores sociológicos / Influence of sociological factors on the use of a state scholarship to feed Chilean university students / Influência de fatores sociológicos no uso de uma bolsa estadual para alimentar estudantes universitários chilenos

Resumen (analítico) Conocer la influencia de factores sociodemográficos en el uso de la beca de alimentación Junaeb Baes, que otorga el Gobierno chileno a estudiantes universitarios con menores ingresos, es necesario para aumentar el beneficio social de este programa estatal. Se consideraron las variables género, modo de residencia, carrera y curso, etnia y posición socioeconómica. Se aplicó una encuesta a 114 estudiantes universitarios chilenos. Los resultados muestran que la posición socioeconómica y el modo de residencia son los factores sociodemográficos más influyentes en el uso de la beca Baes. La variable género no arrojó diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Se concluye que es posible aumentar el porcentaje de gasto en alimentos saludables si se consideran factores sociológicos en el estudio y diseño de políticas de uso de la beca Baes.

Abstract (analytical) Knowing the influence of sociodemographic factors in the use of the Junaeb Baes food benefit granted by the Chilean Government to low-income university students is necessary to increase the social benefit of this state program. The variables gender, mode of residence, major and year, ethnicity and socioeconomic position were considered. A survey was applied to 114 Chilean university students. The results show that socioeconomic position and mode of residence are the most influential socio-demographic factors in the use of the Baes benefit. The gender variable did not show statistically significant differences. It is concluded that it is possible to increase the percentage of spending on healthy foods if sociological factors are considered in the study and design of policies for the use of the Baes grant.

Resumo (analítico) Conhecer a influência de fatores sociodemográficos na utilização da bolsa de alimentação Junaeb Baes concedida pelo Governo do Chile a universitários de menor renda é necessário para aumentar o benefício social deste programa estadual. Foram consideradas as variáveis sexo, modo de residência, carreira e curso, etnia e posição socioeconômica. Uma pesquisa foi aplicada a 114 estudantes universitários chilenos. Os resultados mostram que a posição socioeconômica e o modo de residência são os fatores sociodemográficos mais influentes no uso da bolsa Baes. A variável sexo não apresentou diferenças estatisticamente significantes. Conclui-se que é possível aumentar o percentual de gastos com alimentos saudáveis se fatores sociológicos forem considerados no estudo e desenho de políticas para o uso da bolsa Baes.

Food support provision in COVID-19 times: Organizational data from Greater Manchester.

The dataset presented in this paper contains information on 55 food support providers active in Greater Manchester during the COVID-19 crisis. Survey data were collected in June 2020 to obtain standardized information on the obstacles, needs, and prospects of the food support providers of the region immediately after the first COVID-19 wave. Although the sample is mainly composed of food banks, it also includes other providers such as food pantries, food clubs and meal providers. The data allows to draw some preliminary conclusions on the emergency response put in place and to highlight the most common difficulties faced by the organizations. To this purpose, the dataset contains variables that capture information related (i) to the impact of COVID-19 on organizational procedures and management, and (ii) to the characteristics of different food support provider before the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Too big to fail": the resilience and entrenchment of food aid through food banks in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This paper aims to better understand the resilience and further entrenchment of food aid through food banks in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the first months of the pandemic in the Netherlands, concerns quickly rose about the number of people falling into conditions of food insecurity. Adding insult to injury, food banks reported problems in their operations. The analysis shows that after some adaptations to initial problems, food banks were largely able to continue their service. This ability was partly based on organizational flexibility. However, in order to understand the resilience of food aid through food banks, it is imperative to understand food banks as part of a system of food aid that extends beyond the organizational boundaries. This system includes a range of other actors and resources, including donors, public support and governmental backing that contributed to the resilience of the food aid system. While this embeddedness in a system as well as broad public support were essential for the resilience of food aid through food banks, both factors also indicate the further entrenchment of food banks in the understanding and practices of ensuring food security for people in poverty. Ultimately, when the root causes of a need for food aid are not addressed, a resilient system of food aid through food banks can eventually prove detrimental to societal resilience, specifically the ability to ensure dignified access to adequate food.

The Impact of Climate-Change-Related Disasters on Africa's Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Conflicts: Can Humanitarian Aid and Food Assistance Offset the Damage?

This study analyzed the impact of climate-related natural disasters (droughts, floods, storms/rainstorms) on economic and social variables. As the Africa-specific empirical literature is limited, this study used panel data from 1961-2011 on Africa. The study used a panel data regression model analysis. The results showed that climate change-related natural disasters affected Africa's economic growth, agriculture, and poverty and caused armed conflicts. Among the disasters, droughts are the main cause of negative impact, severely affecting crops such as maize and coffee and resulting in increased urban poverty and armed conflicts. In contrast, international aid has a positive effect but the impact is insignificant compared to the negative consequences of climate-related natural disasters. Cereal food assistance has a negative crowding-out effect on cereal production. International donors should review their interventions to support Africa's adaptative capacity to disasters. Government efficiency has reduced the number of deaths, and this is an area that supports Africa's adaptative efforts.

The precarisation of daily life in Spain: Austerity, social policy and food insecurity.

This article examines the extent to which the 2008 economic crisis has led to a shift in ways of eating among people living in precarious conditions in Spain, and the kinds of strategies they have developed to obtain daily food. Building on a literature review on precarisation in Spain and an analysis of action plans to combat food insecurity, participant-observation ethnography was carried out in Catalonia. Fieldwork was conducted during 2017-2019 in public and private spaces focusing on the food practices of 51 first-time applicants for social assistance. Qualitative data obtained from interviews and direct observation were recorded, transcribed and coded using the ATLAS-ti program to facilitate thematic analysis. Study participants' oral narratives reveal substantial changes in food procurement and eating practices. Strategies include buying different foods, shopping less often and/or in different stores, seeking out cheaper brands, preparing simpler dishes, growing food and recycling leftovers. Their food itineraries reflect increasing reliance on charities, although a common alternative is meals prepared outside the home by family, neighbourhood, activist organisations or themselves. Eating patterns reveal not only experiences of food deprivation and social suffering, but also alternative ways of food procurement. Although food aid is based mainly on an assistance-oriented model, participatory initiatives have the potential to become political spaces that invite us to rethink the distribution of food resources and the limitations of social policies.

The Nutritional Content of Rescued Food Conveyed by a Food Aid Organization.

BACKGROUND: The number of food-insecure families in the European Union has increased, resulting in an increasing number of households depending on food assistance programs. The aim in this study was to evaluate the nutrient content of food rescued by a food aid organization that rescues and redistributes fresh or freshly cooked food to low-income households. METHODS: To determine the nutritional content of food hampers provided by our case study organization, we weighed all items of food hampers in three weighing rounds over a period of four months. The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) was applied to measure households' food insecurity. RESULTS: Our results show that, at our case study food aid organization, food donations substantially contribute to energy, macro, and micronutrient dietary recommendation intake (DRI). CONCLUSIONS: When evaluating how these nutrients contribute to alleviating food insecurity of the beneficiary households, we found that the perception of food insecurity is independent of the amount of nutrients served. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study measuring the nutritional content of fresh or freshly cooked rescued food conveyed by a food aid organization.

Investigating the Feasibility of a Restaurant Delivery Service to Improve Food Security among College Students Experiencing Marginal Food Security, a Head-to-Head Trial with Grocery Store Gift Cards.

Restaurant delivery services have gained in popularity among college students; however, students participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are not allowed to redeem their benefits via restaurant delivery services. This mixed-methods head-to-head crossover trial assessed whether college students experiencing marginal food security prefer benefits via a grocery store gift card (as a proxy for traditional SNAP benefits) or via a restaurant delivery service gift card of equivalent value, and which type of benefit is more effective at improving food security status. Thirty college students experiencing marginal food security were recruited to receive $80 in cash equivalent benefits to spend over a two-month period in the form of grocery store gift cards and restaurant delivery service gift cards. Participants completed surveys and interviews to measure their food security status and share their experiences with each benefit type. After four months of benefits, 48.3% of participants improved their food security status. However, neither type of benefit was statistically better at improving food security status. Most participants preferred grocery store benefits (89.7%) over restaurant delivery service benefits (10.3%). However, more research is needed to explore whether allowing SNAP recipients to redeem their benefits with restaurant delivery services is a viable mechanism to address food challenges among college students experiencing marginal food security.