Creating an app to help food pantries provide healthy food and improve emergency readiness
Official title: Developing a Support Application for Food Pantries (SAFPAS) to Improve Client Access to Healthy Foods & Enhance Emergency Preparedness
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10991409 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a helpful app for food pantries to make it easier for them to connect people with healthy food and manage their services better, especially after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | December 7, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $250,413 |
| NIH project number | 5R34HL161566-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10991409 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who rely on food pantries for assistance and are seeking healthier food options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not utilize food pantries or have stable access to healthy food may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a mobile application called the Support Application for Food Pantries (SAFPAS) to enhance the operations of food pantries. The app aims to improve client access to healthy food options and streamline the management of food assistance programs, especially in the wake of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will facilitate staff and volunteer recruitment, training, and scheduling, while also providing nutrition education and real-time communication with clients. By addressing these operational challenges, the app seeks to ensure that food pantries can effectively meet the needs of their communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve access to healthy food for individuals facing food insecurity, thereby enhancing their overall health and well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using technology to improve food assistance programs, indicating that this approach has potential for positive outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gittelsohn, Joel — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Gittelsohn, Joel
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.