| Sumario: | Aim: Many American households that are food insecure rely on an assortment of charitable food assistance organizations and government food assistance programs to address difficulties in obtaining food resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic, food assistance organizations had to scale up rapidly to meet the increased demand for food assistance. After the swift implementation of emergency measures, charitable food organizations encountered uncertainties regarding their capacity to identify gaps or oversupply of existing charitable food programs and services at the neighborhood level, hindering their ability to allocate resources effectively. This study aims to offer guidance to local food assistance organizations to address immediate community food needs and allocation of food resources. Subject and methods: A community-level survey was conducted using a convenience sample. The survey consisted of structured multiple-choice questions aimed at identifying food insecure households and exploring the utilization of charitable food programs and government assistance by city residents. Additionally, geographic information system (GIS) technology was employed to enhance the survey data, enabling the mapping of food assistance sites and population demographics. Results: Most respondents indicated moderate to high levels of food insecurity and a high use of food assistance programs. Factors that influenced the use of charitable food assistance were low income and the use of benefit programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The significant barriers to accessing free food resources reported by the survey respondents were transportation and the hours and location of the resources. Conclusions: The findings of this study can provide important insights and guidance for food assistance program planners and community leaders to identify neighborhoods vulnerable to food insecurity and connect food assistance programs to those most in need.
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