Advancing North Shore Community Health Through Ocean-raised and faRm-grown Foods (ANCHOR Study)

Part of paid clinical trials in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Sponsor
Tufts University
Study ID
NCT07703501
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Diet Quality

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Medically supportive meal kits — BEHAVIORAL
    Participants in this single-arm pilot study will receive a nutrition-focused meal kit intervention delivered through a community food pantry. Over a 12-week period, participants will receive three meal kits per week during their regular pantry visits. Each meal kit includes fresh produce, locally sourced seafood, and pantry staple ingredients (e.g., grains, seasonings), bundled together with simple, culturally relevant recipes designed to support preparation of healthy meals at home. In addition to meal kit distribution, participants will be invited to attend optional onsite cooking demonstrations led by community partners, which provide hands-on guidance for preparing the recipes and using the provided ingredients. Participants will also complete a baseline and follow-up survey, and a subset may be invited to participate in focus groups to share feedback on their experience with the program.

Study Details

This study is testing a new way to support healthy eating by providing free meal kits through a food pantry. Adults who use The Open Door food pantry will receive meal kits that include fresh produce, seafood, and other ingredients, along with simple recipes and optional cooking demonstrations, over a 3-month period. The goal is to learn whether these meal kits are helpful, easy to use, and a good fit for the community. Researchers will also look at whether they help improve access to healthy foods, diet quality, and confidence with cooking. Participants will be asked to complete short surveys at the beginning and end of the study, and some may be invited to join a group discussion to share their experiences. Overall, the study aims to improve programs that connect people to healthy, locally sourced food and to inform future efforts to support nutrition and food access in the community.

Key Dates

First listed
Jul 14, 2026
Start date
Jun 2, 2026
Status verified
Jul 2026
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2026
Completion
Dec 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
50 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION

Arms

  • Experimental: Medically supportive meal kits
    Participants in this single-arm pilot study will receive a nutrition-focused meal kit intervention delivered through a community food pantry. Over a 12-week period, participants will receive three meal kits per week during their regular pantry visits. Each meal kit includes fresh produce, locally sourced seafood, and pantry staple ingredients (e.g., grains, seasonings), bundled together with simple, culturally relevant recipes designed to support preparation of healthy meals at home. In addition to meal kit distribution, participants will be invited to attend optional onsite cooking demonstrations led by community partners, which provide hands-on guidance for preparing the recipes and using the provided ingredients. Participants will also complete a baseline and follow-up survey, and a subset may be invited to participate in focus groups to share feedback on their experience with the program.

Primary Outcome Measure

Feasibility and Acceptability of Medically Supportive Meal Kit Program [ Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of the study (end of 12-weeks) ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Tufts University (Investigator site) The Open Door (Recruitment & Intervention site)GloucesterMassachusetts01930
Kelseanna Hollis-Hansen, PhD, MPH
[email protected]
‪(469) 240-9112‬

Find similar trials in Gloucester, MA

By research site
Tufts University (Investigator site) The Open Door (Recruitment & Intervention site)· Gloucester, MA

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