(P19-35-26) Beyond Food Distribution: Understanding Sustainability of Food Assistance Programs From Stakeholders’ Perspectives

Objectives: Food insecurity (FI) is a public health issue, with increasing rates among college students in the United States (US). Food Assistance Programs (FAPs), both on- and off-campus, serve as key resources for addressing FI among students. Despite their critical role, limited research has examined how these programs are sustained to ensure continuity. This study explored stakeholders' perspectives on the sustainability of on and off-campus FAPs that support students.

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted at a public university in the South Central United States from June to September 2025. Participants (n=13) were program managers of on and off-campus FAPs, including food pantries, food recovery initiatives, mobile pantries, and soup kitchens. Using purposive sampling, participants were recruited via email and invited to participate in a 45-minute interview. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically by two trained researchers.

Results: Three sustainability strategies emerged: reliance on external goodwill, building and maintaining partnerships, and dependence on volunteers. First, stakeholders described heavy reliance on external goodwill, including donations, competitive grants, and strategic resource management practices to support daily operations. Second, building and maintaining partnerships with food banks, the campus farm, local restaurants, and retailers was identified as essential for program continuity and food supply stability. Finally, volunteers were described as an essential workforce supporting daily operations and service delivery.

Conclusions: Findings indicate that FAPs rely heavily on goodwill, partnerships, and volunteers to sustain themselves. However, the unpredictable nature of these strategies poses structural vulnerabilities that may impede program continuity and consistent service delivery. Establishing diversified and stable institutional funding mechanisms, strengthening formalized partnerships, and developing structured volunteer recruitment and retention systems may be essential to ensuring long-term sustainability of FAPs as reliable resources for students experiencing food insecurity.

Funding Sources: Oklahoma State University