Tracy E. Thompson MPH Candidate Michigan State University Designing and completing an evaluation of the impact of a local 501c3 providing healthy evening meals to 4500 disadvantaged children in Kent County, Michigan Tracy E. Thompson MPH Candidate Michigan State University

Grand Rapids, MI Population 190,000 59.0% White 20.9% Black 15.6% Hispanic Per capita income: $20,281 (MI: $25,482) Below poverty: 25.5% (MI: 15.7%)

Kids Food Basket 10-year old 501c3 organization Primarily privately funded (30% Foundation, 30% Corporation, 40% Individual) Mobilizes over 45,000 volunteer hours/year Sack Supper—well-rounded evening meal in a paper sack given at school, after-school, parks Started by serving 125 – now almost 6,000 served every week day

Evaluation Questions Is the food provided by KFB eaten? What is being eaten most? What wasted? Is the program reaching children and families in need? How can KFB continue to evaluate its programs in the future?

Evaluation Methods An incentivized child survey on each of the bag suppers (1197; 26.6%) An observational waste study (149) Online teacher survey (82; 27.3%) Parent survey (422) Child interviews (65)

Is the food that Kids Food Basket provides being eaten?

Results—Child Interviews Waste Study

What is being eaten most? What is being wasted?

Results—Waste Study

Is the program reaching children & families in need?

Thank you! Questions?

What’s Happening Now? Kids Food Basket received a Kellogg Grant Using lessons learned on new evaluation