National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference 2024

Courtney Ramsey-Coleman
Caren Maloy
Recent data reveals that around 30% of college students face food insecurity. Where there is food insecurity, issues of nutrition security also arise. As part of the nutrition strategy under the1807 State Physical Activity and Nutrition grant from the CDC, the North Carolina Division of Public Health, in collaboration with North Carolina State University's Steps to Health program, initiated a learning collaborative. This collaborative aimed to improve healthy food accessibility within college food pantries.
To address gaps in food pantries and align with the Healthy Eating Research Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System, this learning collaborative included training and technical support to enhance healthy food pantry standards. Topics covered  implementation of food service guidelines, trauma-informed care, strategies for expanding donation pools, sourcing healthy donations, incorporating culturally relevant foods, and more. These one-hour sessions from March to December 2023 featured monthly new topics, guest speakers, and resources, with recordings shared via email for accessibility.
While 33 pantries joined, live session attendance averaged between 10 to 15 due to scheduling challenges. Among the 33 completing initial assessments, 10 committed to food service guidelines. Food pantries also adopted healthy donation policies, partnered with local food banks, and conducted culturally relevant food surveys.
The positive engagement and outcomes of the live sessions has led to the development of a more interactive Healthy Food Access Pantry Training Program. This new six-month cohort training program will provide support for organizational structures and working procedures of food pantries to help decrease nutrition insecurity in NC communities.