91社区

Ongoing Projects

Manatee Food Security Network Food Access Map Evaluation

With support from the Bishop-Parker Foundation, the Manatee Food Security Network (MFSN) selected the Center for the Advancement of Food Security and Healthy Communities (CAFSHC) to evaluate its Food Aid Map. The evaluation examines how MFSN partners perceive and use the map in their day-to-day operations, program planning, and collaboration with other organizations. CAFSHC is conducting surveys and interviews with eligible partner organizations. Based on the findings, CAFSHC will present MFSN with recommendations and proposed next steps for improving the Food Aid Map. CAFSHC and MFSN are also planning potential partnerships moving into 2027, including collaboration to further improve the map and expands its focus.

Dissertation Research: Food Bank Resilience Building During Crisis and Uncertainty: Lessons Learned and New Challenges for Promoting Food Security

Deven Gray, M.A., is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Anthropology at the 91社区. His dissertation research examines how food banks understand and respond to ongoing challenges and prepare for future crises. Deven's research involves Feeding 91社区鈥檚 affiliate food banks, with data collected primarily through surveys and interviews with food bank administrators and staff. He is also conducting fieldwork and participant observation at Feeding Tampa Bay to develop a collaborative case study. As an applied anthropologist, Deven aims to produce practical resources that help participating food banks prepare for natural disasters, economic downturns, future pandemics, and other unforeseen crises.

The Community Speaks Out: Responses to Changes in SNAP and Medicaid Policies in Tampa Bay

In partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay, CAFSHC is examining how residents of Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Polk counties who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are experiencing and preparing for sweeping cuts to these federal safety-net programs under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21). Using community-based participatory research methods like listening sessions, focus groups, brief surveys, and a photovoice activity in which participants document their own experiences, the project centers the lived realities of affected neighbors. Findings will be compiled into a community exhibit and used to develop strategies to mitigate the impact of these policy changes.

Seniors in Service Health Buddies

Health Buddies is a multifaceted program tailored to address health disparities experienced among older adults living in Tampa Bay. Operated in collaboration between Seniors in Service, Feeding Tampa Bay, and the 91社区, Health Buddies delivers 12 high-quality, healthy meals to seniors in need biweekly. These meals are prepared with the unique dietary needs (low-sodium, high-fiber, etc.) of seniors in mind. In addition to addressing food insecurity, the program also connects a volunteer "buddy" to every participant. The buddies will call their senior partners up to twice a week to combat loneliness and establish relationships. Since the start of the program, over 70 participants have received these services. Ultimately, the goal of Health Buddies is to "reduce preventable hospital readmissions for individuals living with chronic conditions" and to "empower individuals to self-manage their health"

15th Street Nutrition Education Program (NEP)

This NEP is being done in collaboration with the 15th St. Farm in downtown St. Petersburg and several local schools in Pinellas County. Funded by the USDA, the purpose of the NEP is to teach agricultural science and improve the nutritional health of students, parents, and teachers living/working in lower-income communities that have food deserts. In addition to the educational activities, the program is providing both human resources and monetary support to build several school gardens where hands-on activities are taking place ().

Hillsborough Home Grown

This research concerns a County-led food system program in Hillsborough County. Hillsborough currently seeks to, in part, lead a community development initiative, where organizations will coordinate food system programs and outreach for community engagement and education. CAFHSC is conducting conduct training and performing analysis to support and evaluate the beginning stages of this Homegrown Hillsborough food systems program and related efforts.

Food Insecure Population鈥檚 Decreased Microbiome Diversity and the Effect with Increased Inflammation, leakiness in Their Gut and Decreased Cognitive Function

The Microbiomes Institute (USF Tampa), Center for the Advancement of Food Security and Healthy Communities (CAFSHC, USF Tampa), and School of Hospitality & Tourism Management have teamed up to study the relationship between food security, the gut microbiome, and cognition. This study will assess what people eat, measure their level of food security, and take saliva and stool samples to analyze bacterial diversity.

Examining Children鈥檚 Engagement in an Urban School Garden Education Program

This thesis project's research goal is to Identify the factors that facilitate school-aged children鈥檚 engagement in garden-based nutritional programs. 

鈥淭he knowledge is there, it鈥檚 the food that isn鈥檛鈥�: increasing children鈥檚 produce accessibility and consumption through food literacy and school gardening.

This research theorizes that the autonomy of growing their own food to navigate unequal healthy food distribution increases children鈥檚 enjoyment of and accessibility to locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables. Through participant observation, pre and post surveys, and age-appropriate group activities, this project aims to explore the holistic benefits of school gardening programs such as self-efficacy and the emotional connections created when individuals are involved in growing their own food and hypothesize that these connections are key to increasing produce accessibility and consumption among children as well as create methods of experiential learning that complement knowledge of healthy eating.