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Food insecurity, defined as insufficient access to food for a healthy and active life, affected approximately 12.8% of U.S. households in 2022. A concerted effort from both the government and non-government organizations is underway to address this challenge in the United States. This study centers on the Foodbank of Central and Eastern North Carolina (FBCENC), a nonprofit hunger relief organization pivotal in collecting and distributing food donations to local agencies serving individuals in need. However, despite the critical role of food banks, nutritional considerations are often overlooked. To address this gap, the study employs the Healthy Eating Research (HER) Nutrition Guideline, categorizing nutrition types (Red, Yellow, and Green) to assess and enhance the nutritional equity of the current distribution system. A linear programming model is proposed, and equity is adopted as the performance measure. The study aims to develop a model that strategically reduces nutritional disparities across the network. By incorporating HER guidelines and emphasizing equity in distribution, this research contributes to the broader objective of creating a more nutritionally equitable response to food insecurity within the non-profit sector. 

Food banks provide services and food assistance to those facing food insecurity, a challenge that can affect families and individuals from various backgrounds and communities. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are principal factors in food bank operations. This study focuses on diversity as measured by client ethnicities and the rurality of the counties served by the food banks. Over 44 food banks were interviewed to understand their operations. Key performance indicator (KPI) metrics in each organization were identified and classified as Community Focused (CF), involving tailored services based on community needs, and Organizational Efficiency Focused (OE), involving processes and strategies to increase output and minimize resources. A clustering analysis was conducted to group these organizations depending on the percentage of rural counties served by the food banks and their respective zscore based on diversity index, so four clusters (tiers) were created (Tier 1 are the least diverse and the most rural, while those in the fourth tier are the most diverse and the least rural). The KPIs in each tier organization were examined and results suggest that organizations in Tier 1 use more OE KPI metrics whereas those in Tier 4 use a more balanced combination of CF and OE metrics. This research provides hunger-relief organizations insights to adopt practices that acknowledge, accommodate, and celebrate the diverse needs and characteristics of the neighborhood they serve.