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Primary Research

Primary research

Primary Research

  • Primary research

Field Research

Find information about local food banks by using the feeding America website, and visit 6 local food banks to record and take photos

Survey

We have distributed and collected a total of 86 valid questionnaires targeting food bank users

Interview

We interviewed a total of 8 existing users of food banks, 4 potential users, a, and 1 food pantry employee.

A. Contextual Research

We visited local food banks and food pantries with the intention of observing their environment and gathering information. However, despite obtaining food banks' information from the Feeding America website, we encountered challenges in finding accurate details for the food pantries.

 

  1. The information provided on the Feeding America website regarding food banks is not always accurate.

  2. Feeding America's lack of its own application leads people to rely on third-party apps, such as Google Maps, which may not always provide reliable or up-to-date information, including closures, inaccurate addresses, and incorrect opening times.

  3. Accessing food from a food bank can be challenging for individuals, as it involves a complex process of determining distribution dates, remembering locations, and scheduling suitable pickup times.

  4. Food pantries often have flexible opening hours. If you follow the website's instructions to visit food pantries, you may find them closed due to unforeseen circumstances, such as staff making last-minute decisions to go out and purchase more food supplies.

B. Interview

We interviewed 4 people who are in food banks to get information. And we also interviewed one food pantries stuff and one food bank's stuff to collect information. After that, we utilized data analysis techniques, specifically Affinity Diagramming, to analyze the collected data.

Facts：

For people in need of food assistance:

  1. They typically rely on word-of-mouth within their communities to learn about food pantries.

  2. They usually visit one or several specific food pantries to meet their food needs.

  3. They wish know more details about food pantries' service, such as food types.

  4. They want more customized service, such as considering food allergy.

  5. They often can get additional help from food pantries.

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For food pantries:

  1. Volunteers form an essential part of many food pantries.

  2. They often provide multiple services besides food providing.

  3. They still rely on traditional methods for information recording and community communication.

  4. Food pantries frequently organize events among themselves.

  5. Although they have a website, the primary donations come from neighbors rather than online sources.

  6. They accept various donations beyond food.

  7. They are not solely dependent on donations but also purchase items themselves.

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For Food banks:

  1. Food banks inspect and categorize donated food to ensure its quality and safety.

  2. The sources of food for food banks are diverse and can be uncertain, including donations from truck drivers or personal contributions from farmers, among others.

  3. Significant manpower is required to receive, sort, package, and distribute the food.

  4. Typically, expired food is donated to other organizations, such as being repurposed as fertilizer for farmers.

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