Abstract Introduction The 2-1-1 system is a nationwide social service provider that connects callers with unmet needs to appropriate community resources. Every year, over two million Americans experiencing food insecurity (FI) seek help from 2-1-1. Yet, little is known about the FI experiences among 2-1-1 callers seeking food-related support, specifically, who they are, the circumstances that lead them to contact 2-1-1, and the strategies they believe could help reduce FI. Methods To address this gap, we interviewed 30 food-related callers (20 in English and 10 in Spanish) to the Utah 2-1-1 system between November 2024 and January 2025. Results Thematic analysis revealed three primary reasons for seeking food-related help from 2-1-1: (1) ineligibility for federal nutrition and financial assistance programs; (2) facing non-income-related barriers to accessing food; and (3) experiencing unexpected life events. Callers suggested strengthening and adapting federal nutrition assistance programs, improving emergency food provision systems, and enhancing informational support. Conclusion Based on these insights, we provide suggestions on how to leverage the 2-1-1 system to intervene on FI.
Sharareh et al. (Fri,) studied this question.