Crossroads Community Services in Dallas distinguishes itself as a hunger-relief organization with a strong focus on research-based innovation. The organization’s practices have evolved to adopt a food distribution model that encourages frequent client visits, with the aim of aiding clients to achieve not only hunger relief but also nutritional stability.

The data-centric approach of Crossroads has been instrumental in informing its strategies and enhancing its impact. Over a decade ago, the organization partnered with Community Assistance Research (CARE), a project led by academic researchers Dr. Tammy Leonard and Dr. Sandi Pruitt. They collaborated with Dallas-area food banks and pantries to identify the most effective practices in food assistance.

CARE‘s innovative project, the SNAP Appointment Coordination project, aimed to improve food security for low-income households by better coordinating the usage of SNAP and food pantries. A randomized controlled trial of an appointment system was conducted at Crossroads and another food pantry. This new system encouraged clients to schedule pantry visits even when they still had SNAP benefits, which helped to de-stigmatize pantry usage while ensuring more regular access to nutrition.

This intervention showed positive results, with households that visited pantries within seven days of receiving SNAP benefits reporting 32% fewer cases of fair/poor health than those who visited three weeks after receiving SNAP. The appointment system also saved clients an average of 40 minutes per pantry visit, a significant saving for people without paid sick leave.

Crossroads further assists its clients by offering financial coaching through a partnership with WiNGs, a financial literacy nonprofit in Dallas, helping clients achieve long-term financial stability.

Regular client surveys form a crucial component of Crossroads‘ research work, which stands unique compared to most pantries that have adopted a no questions asked model. Data collected from these surveys offers valuable insights into the specific needs of the community and enhances the organization’s ability to secure funding through grant applications.

The surveys, which clients can choose to opt out of, consist of a range of questions about their household size, last meal, weight, and food security concerns. This information is stored in a Salesforce database that randomizes the questions each time, ensuring clients don’t get tired of repeating the same answers. The aggregate data allows Crossroads to gain a holistic understanding of each client’s challenges over time.

To maintain client privacy, Crossroads conducts these surveys in a smaller, discreet room, away from the main space. This approach has led to clients being more open with their responses.

From a research perspective, Crossroads is a “dream organization” due to its innovative practices and willingness to adapt based on research findings. This shows that research and data collection in the food pantry setting can and do bring about meaningful changes and improvements in their practices.