Table 3.

Themes and representative quotes among library meal programme participants (n 67) from low-income communities in Silicon Valley, California, USA, summer 2015

Domain 1. Library meal programme

Theme 1: Libraries provide an open and welcoming atmosphere

‘The way this community is served, this branch, serves the community. I understand that this is different than the other one. But it’s good so far … Personally I like the way that this branch treats the people, the community.’ (Latina/African American female participant)

‘I think it’s a turn off when parents aren’t allowed to also enjoy the meal with their children. It’s a communal thing. So that was what I was talking about and here, it seems like it’s open for everybody and there’s no age bracket. It’s just open.’ (Asian female participant)

Theme 2: Enrichment programmes in conjunction with meals is a strength

‘I am thankful for the lunch but for me, the most personally important [aspect] is the programme, so that the child is not watching too much television, that he shares more with other children and he learns how to live with different children that are not his classmates, that he can take hold of different experiences and every day would be something different, but I’m thankful also for the lunch [programme].’ (Latina female participant)

‘There are programmes to come to read [and to] learn the computer … The children play with each other. So when they go to school in the future, they’ll be more comfortable. At home they’re very sad. I come here for those reasons and for them to eat together with the free lunch programme. The children have an opportunity to be together, talk to each other, and eat together.’ (Vietnamese female participant)

Theme 3: Libraries are valuable resource hubs

‘There are many resources but many people don’t know about it. Here in the library is my point of … information, the library, so I’ve learned through the library … of health, food, of everything, this is my point of reference, and I think that any library has this, but this is mine specifically.’ (Latina female participant)

Theme 4: Economic benefit of library meal programme

‘I like that it is a service that they give to the community for nothing, without a fee, or anything. It is a service and helps many parents, like there is a mother who brought her four kids! It also saves me money when I can take fruits and vegetables. It helps me economically.’ (Latina female participant)

Domain 2. Access to and utilization of other community food resources

Theme 1: Lack of awareness about community food resources

‘Having the family become aware that these specific programmes are there for them. Regardless of their ... legal status here, or their gender or their race. Some of them are not really informed. They [families] are very … secluded [isolated from resources].’ (Latina/African American female participant)

Theme 2: Incorrect information about existing resources and programme eligibility

‘I had heard on the radio how it is easier to qualify for SNAP than before. I was trying to tell her [a friend] what I had heard ... [and] she said, “Oh, well, someone told me … [that I won’t qualify for food stamps]” … What I have gathered from the conversations is that [people] don’t try hard enough to go and know [learn about resources] for themselves. They just believe whatever the neighbour says about how things work.’ (Latina female participant)

Theme 3: Structural and economic barriers to programme access

‘I have many friends that, well I see that the rent has increased a lot, and honestly ... sometimes they say “no you don’t qualify for food stamps” [SNAP] because you earn too much, and that might be reflected in the cheque but ... in reality … you have to pay for housing, there’s a ton of things.’ (Latina female participant)

‘I think I would qualify for the WIC [programme], but I didn’t really want to do it [apply] because they said you have to come, give an exam, [and] they have to measure the kids or something. I don’t know, it just didn’t feel comfortable, maybe it’s not for me … I just didn’t want to do that.’ (White female participant)

Theme 4: Immigration fears and stigma associated with programme utilization

‘I’ve heard about [SNAP] but my husband doesn’t want us to get them [benefits] because he thinks it will be harder to get [immigration] papers … I come here [to the library meal programme] behind his back because he says that it will affect our [immigration] process.’ (Latina female participant)

‘When I went over there [to the community agency], the lady … went from trying to help me to thinking she knew what I wanted. But she did not understand me, and she did not act professionally. She had labelled me [negatively] as someone who used government resources … If you are working with the community you have to show them respect just like they would any other person with money in their hands.’ (Latina female participant)

SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; WIC, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.