Intern Presentation: Improving Summer Meals

By Will Thomas, CIT Intern, Center for Best Practices

August 12
th
, 2013
2
CONFIDENTIAL

It goes without saying
that summer is a very
important time here at
Share Our Strength.
But how can we make
summer meals
better?
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CONFIDENTIAL
Agenda
How can we improve summer meals?

Creative Marketing
Arbys Marketing Pilot

Better Policy
How are States addressing Summer Meals with policy?
Are these policies working?

Innovative Strategies
SFSP Vendors Survey
Leveraging our restaurant partnerships


Conclusions and Questions

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CONFIDENTIAL
Creative Marketing for our SFSP Sites
Arbys Marketing Pilot

This summer in conjunction with
Arbys franchises in North Carolina,
ads were placed at the point of sale
informing customers about texting
FOOD to 877877 to find the
nearest SFSP site.

CBP matched areas with high
concentration of SFSP sites to
those with Arbys franchises that
were willing to participate. Areas
such as Greensboro and Winston-
Salem were prime for this pilot.


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CONFIDENTIAL
Better Policy for Summer Meals
How are States addressing Summer Meals through Policy?

There are three main ways states are addressing Summer Meals with policy:
Mandates (California, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Vermont,
Virginia, and Washington)

Additional Funding
Grants for outreach and expansion (California, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York,
Vermont, and Washington)
Increased reimbursement for SFSP sponsors (DC, Minnesota and Oregon)

Data Collection Requirements (Nebraska)



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CONFIDENTIAL
How are states with just mandates faring?
5.0%
7.0%
9.0%
11.0%
13.0%
15.0%
17.0%
19.0%
21.0%
23.0%
25.0%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Summer Meals Participation in States
with Mandates Only
FL
IL
MD
MO
OH
TX
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CONFIDENTIAL
How are states with just additional funding faring?
5.0%
15.0%
25.0%
35.0%
45.0%
55.0%
65.0%
75.0%
85.0%
95.0%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Summer Meals Participation in States with Addl. Funding Only
DC
MA
MN
NY
OR
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CONFIDENTIAL
But what about states that mandate and fund?
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Summer Meals Participation in States with
Mandates and Funding
CA
VT
WA
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CONFIDENTIAL
Innovative Strategies to Improve Summer Meals
There isnt a silver bullet as far as summer meals policy is
concerned. But, were making progress:

More states beginning to address Summer Meals (Illinois and Maine in
2013).

We will have to wait for data from 2013 to see how some policy
implementations are working (MN and NE).

Lots of positive political capital around breakfast and other policy
implementations to build push for coherent summer meals policy.



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CONFIDENTIAL
Innovative Strategies to Improve Summer Meals

The 2012 Summer Meals Task Force Identified a few ways to improve
summer meals through leveraging existing partnerships:

Partnerships with current vendors to SFSP sites
Partnerships with our outstanding corporate restaurant partners


Therefore, we set out to understand what SFSP Sponsor/Vending
relationships look like in order to see how we might be able to engage
restaurant partners in the future.




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CONFIDENTIAL
Innovative Strategies to Improve Summer Meals
To do this, we reached out to SFSP vendors in Florida in conjunction with
their Department of Agriculture.
Five respondents
60% (3) were catering companies.
40% (2) had been vendors for 5+ yrs, 20% (1) each for 1-2 yrs or first year.
60% provided to two or more sponsor organizations
60% (3) prepared breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Only one provided snacks.
60% (3) provided directly-served hot meals, 20%(1) provided pre-prepared box
meals and cold grab and go options. Respondents indicated that cold meals were a
hassle.
Benefits of being an SFSP Vendor
40% (2) indicated that they benefitted financially
20% (1) indicated that they received positive media coverage
40% (2) reported improved perception in the community













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CONFIDENTIAL
Innovative Strategies to Improve Summer Meals
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Conclusions & Questions
In conclusion, we have a long way to go on summer meals, but were headed
in a good direction:

Were getting creative in how we address the problem of summer meals.
Were thinking about how to create better policy around summer meals.
Were working toward leveraging our great partnerships so that way our partners
are sharing their strengths.


Any questions or comments?