NERAHN: Northeast Regional Anti-Hunger Network

Results

With funding from the UPS Foundation, the Northeast Collaboration to Reduce Hunger and Improve Nutrition implemented a four-year initiative to increase the effectiveness of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in four states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont. Each participating state selected target and control communities with target communities receiving a program of support and guidance aimed at helping them increase the number of SFSP sites, average daily attendance and total number of children served at sites, total operating days, and total number of meals served by sites. Another goal of the project was to help partners take action to improve the quality of food served at sites. The main findings of an evaluation of the UPS Project are summarized below.

The UPS Project was implemented in 34 communities in the four states (CT: 4 target and 4 control communities; MA: 4 target and 4 control communities, NY: 5 target and 5 control communities, and; VT: 4 target and 4 control communities)

Over the 4 years of the UPS Project, the total number of SFSP sites providing summer meals to children in the participating communities (target and control combined) increased steadily from 2005 to 2008 (153 in 2005; 171 in 2006; 218 in 2007; and 284 in 2008).

Among all sites that provided SFSP meals, the average number of days that SFSP sites operated each summer increased over the 4 years of the project, going from an average of 27 days in 2005 to an average of 28 in 2006, an average of 30 days in 2007, and dropping back slightly to an average of 28 days in 2008. However the increase over the 4 years was not statistically significant (P = 0.33).

The average daily number of children attending each operating SFSP site also increased over the first three years of the project (P < 0.01), increasing from an average of 90 children per day in 2005 to an average of 132 children per day in 2006, and an average of 140 children per day in 2007. In 2008, however, the overall average number of children attending declined back to 76 children per site per day.

The average total number of meals served per site (summed over breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner) increased over the project period and while the overall increase was not statistically significant at the 95% confidence level, it was significant at the 90% level (P = 0.077). The average total number of meals increased from an average of 2,687 in 2005 to an average of 3,501 in 2006, dipped slightly to an average of 3,355 in 2007, then dropped back to an average of 2,726 in 2008.

Review of meal quality at a sample of sites in 2008 found that, while there is a growing awareness of the desirability of improving meal quality, sites encounter limitations arising from factors such as higher costs of healthier foods, increasing overall food costs, limited staff time to obtain and prepare healthier foods, dependence on meals prepared at central facilities and transported to sites, and absence of local food preparation facilities. In spite of such limitations, 62% of sites reviewed reported increasing the amounts of whole grain products served, 38% reported reducing the amount of high-fat foods served, 38% reported reducing the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages served, 50% reported increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables served, 62% reported either introducing or continuing to provide locally-grown produce, 25% reported reducing the amount of snacks high in sugar, fat and sodium, and additional meal types (breakfasts, snacks, dinners) were added in 25% of sites. 38% of sites reported adverse cost impacts of improving quality of food provided. 12% of sites reported adhering to local wellness policies.

These results indicate that the UPS Project can be judged overall to have been successful. They also highlight the very high level ofeffort necessary to sustain an increasing trend in SFSP expansion. It is noteworthy that, as described above, some indicators declined from 2007 to 2008 after increasing steadily from 2005 through 2007. Though this evaluation was not designed to address the causes of such change, it is important to note that the current economic recession began in December 2007.

The Summer Food Service Program is not a truly “counter-cyclical program” for which funding is increased when demand increases due to business-cycle contraction. A number of SFSP site organizers and sponsors reported concerns and issues related to funding limitations in response to questions about improving food quality. It is possible that financial constraints tightened for SFSP site sponsors, managers, and food vendors during 2008, as they did in the economy as a whole and for the general population, and that this financial contraction affected the ability of SFSP sites to respond.

Learn More about the UPS Project
UPS Project Background
Organizational Profiles and Contact Information

Read SFSP Best Practice Tools
Identifying and assessing a target community to build a work plan
Building a community coalition to support a work plan
Recruiting sponsors and sites
Conducting outreach
Addressing meal quality