A summer meal program represents something more than simply serving food to kids. It represents an opportunity to create a summer safety net for children and youth in our communities. And building that safety net starts with some knowledge about how to do it. We’ve gathered success stories from communities throughout the state (and we’re adding more!) to lend creative ideas, practices and partnerships that work, and programs that succeed. Whether your organization is just starting out or you are currently operating a summer meal program and are looking for new ideas, we hope the information we’ve gathered provides some inspiration.
Past Webinars:
Watch our February 29, 2012 webinar to learn how school districts are building robust summer meal programs and developing creative partnerships in their communities. Speakers include child nutrition directors from Riverside USD, San Diego USD, and Escondido UHSD.
Watch our March 13, 2012 webinar to learn how to build successful programs and partnerships from the following organizations: Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, San Jose Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services, and City of Oakland’s Department of Children & Youth..
Watch our May 4, 2011 webinar with presentations that help demystify the process of becoming a summer meal sponsor or site. Or learn more from the Q&A session (written transcipt).
Watch our April 7, 2010 webinar that profiles case studies and tools to provide sponsors and sites with model materials relating to administration, outreach, programming and nutrition education.
Powerpoint Presentations:
You can also directly access a Summer Meal PowerPoint from the Nutrition Services Division at the California Department of Education (CDE) that provides information on requirements to participate a sponsor in the Summer Food Service Program (SSFP) and Seamless Summer Feeding Option (SSFO).
You can also view Powerpoint presentations from YMCA of Silicon Valley, Redwood Empire Food Bank, and San Diego USD which showcase the approaches and tools they use to run their successful summer programs.
And if you are an after-school program that wants resources about providing summer meals, take a look at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) PowerPoint that reviews resources developed specifically for after-school providers.
Click on links below to access case studies and materials of successful summer meal programs.
City of Oakland
The City of Oakland’s Department of Children & Youth teamed up with Alameda County Community Food Bank and Oakland Public Library to nourish kids’ bodies and minds.
Read Oakland’s case study here
Review the Powerpoint presentation here (Watch the March 12, 2012 webinar to hear the narrated presentation)
YMCA of Silicon Valley (YMCA-SV)
As a new sponsor of summer meals in 2009, the YMCA-SV served 18,308 meals. In 2010, they added breakfasts to their summer meal program and served 165,000 meals.
YMCA Case Study
YMCA-SV Tool Box
San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD)
In 2004, 16 park and recreation sites served 11,000 summer meals.
In 2009, 44 schools and 23 park and recreation sites served 250,000 meals. In 2011, SDUSD served 286,022 meals at 63 sites and held 56 BBQ events.
SDUSD Case Study
SDUSD Tool Box
Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB)
In 2004, REFB partnered at 13 sites that provided 15,115 summer meals.
In 2009, as a sponsor, REFB supported 35 sites and helped serve 75,824 summer meals. In 2011, REFB served more than 100,000 meals.
