Participant and Stakeholder Perceptions of the Food FARMacy Emergency Food Assistance Program for COVID-19: A Qualitative Study

Food FARMacy is a clinical-community emergency food assistance program developed in response to food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Few qualitative studies have examined participant, and clinical and community stakeholder experiences with these food assistance programs.To examine the motivations, experiences, and perceptions of Food FARMacy participants and program stakeholders.A qualitative study using in-depth interviews between March 2021 to July 2021.24 Food FARMacy participants and ten program stakeholders in New York, NY (Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens) over age 18 years were interviewed.Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Participant and program stakeholder interviews were analyzed separately. Themes that were salient in both groups were combined for reporting.Both program participants and stakeholders perceived: 1) Pandemic-related demands combined with reduced resources motivated participation; 2) Convenience, safety, and ease of access facilitated program retention; 3) Participants valued fresh produce and diversity of foods; 4) The program improved diet and health; 5) Minimizing food waste was a priority; and 6) Social cohesion was an unexpected program benefit. Two additional themes among only program stakeholders also were identified: 1) Aligned values, flexibility, and communication were key to successful partnerships; and 2) Trust between community partners and community members drove programmatic success.Results suggest that a multi-site clinical-community partnership to provide emergency food assistance in New York City can be leveraged to reduce barriers to healthy food access and address food insecurity during crises.