Our mission is to provide youth in our region with educational enrichment, citizenship training and positive recreational activities, all in a safe environment which focuses them toward positive, healthy lifestyles and leads them to become responsible, contributing adults.

Neighbors For Kids (NFK): Kids Zone After-School Program & Summer Program, Academic Excellence & Achievement Program, USDA Food Program, Rowing Club, Music Lessons (Piano & Guitar) and Youth Entrepreneurship Program. In addition, NFK is a state-licensed child care center.

Neighbors For Kids and the Kids Zone site have been a sponsor of the USDA Food Program for 7 years. Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) – 7 years (meals provided by a vendor for first 3 years) Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) – 4 years as an independent sponsor (all meals prepared and served on-site by cook and staff) In 2009 we constructed a new 7,600 square foot building to accommodate our growing program. Part of the architectural design was specifically for the USDA food program (a kitchen, hand-washing sinks and cafeteria area)

Neighbors For Kids 7,600 square foot youth facility. Constructed using a combination of federal tax dollars, grant foundations, community donations, plus in-kind labor and materials. ($1.2 million project)

We quickly realized that having low-quality, basic meals caused low attendance and the children were less likely to eat the meals served. Remedy: Go independent! Serve meals that are high-quality, creative, flavorful and contain foods the children love to eat! We decided to involve the children in creating our monthly menus. This sense of ownership and responding to their needs changed everything. We had them tell us what they liked through surveys, discussions and by adding new kid-friendly menu items which qualified for CACFP/SFSP. Now the children love our food, they have often times said it is better than the school lunches they receive and there is little waste. Fruit and vegetable consumption has gone way up and the entrees are delicious. Here is a sample monthly menu for CACFP. (see next slide)

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat 1 Pork Carnitas Tacos (D-13) Green Salad Honeydew Melon Milk Condiment– Salsa 2 Spaghetti w/Meat Balls (D-35) French Bread Green Salad Apples/Grapes Milk Condiment-Ranch 3 CLOSED Chicken Nuggets (commercial) Potato Rolls Green Salad Oranges/Apples Milk Condiment- Ranch, BBQ 7 Hot Dogs Oranges Broccoli/Carrots Milk Condiment- Ranch, Ketchup, Mustard 8 Bean Burritos (D-21A) Apples Carrots/Cucumbers/Broccoli Milk Condiment- Ranch, Salsa 9 Grilled Cheese w/ Ham (recipe) Bananas Broccoli/Carrots Milk Condiment- Ranch 10 Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich (recipe) String Cheese Apples/Strawberries Carrots/Broccoli Milk Condiment- Ranch Chicken Caesar Salad (recipe) Rolls Bananas Milk Condiment– Caesar Dressing, Croutons 14 Chili Dogs Oranges Broccoli/Carrots Milk Condiment- Ranch, Ketchup, Mustard 15 Beef Tacos (D-13) Green Salad Bananas Milk Condiment– Salsa 16 Sweet & Sour Chicken (D-06) White Rice Carrots Cantaloupe Melon Milk Condiment- Ranch, So 17 Breakfast Sandwich w/Ham/Egg (recipe) Hash brown potatoes Apples/Grapes Milk Condiment-Ketchup CLOSED 21 Chicken Nuggets (commercial) Potato Rolls Green Salad Oranges/Apples Milk Condiment- Ranch, BBQ 22 Bean Burritos (D-21A) Apples Carrots/Cucumbers/Broccoli Milk Condiment- Ranch, Salsa 23 Hot Dogs Oranges Broccoli/Carrots Milk Condiment- Ranch, Ketchup, Mustard 24 Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich (recipe) String Cheese Bananas Carrots/Broccoli Milk Condiment- Ranch Teriyaki Chicken (D-06) White Rice Carrots Apples Milk Condiment- Ranch, Soy 28 Spaghetti w/Meat Balls (D- 35) French Bread Green Salad Apples/Grapes Milk Condiment-Ranch 29 Breakfast Sandwich w/Ham/Egg (recipe) Hash brown potatoes Oranges Milk Condiment-Ketchup

Each month, reimbursement nearly covers all costs of food, supplies and the cook’s wages. Staffing the Meal Program – USDA Cook works between hours per day. 1-2 paid staff and 2-3 volunteers assist with meal service, supervision, preparation and clean-up. *Volunteers are the key to work within budget! For Example: In January 2012, we fed 625 suppers and the reimbursement check was $1,870. Total food/supplies/milk Costs in January = $1172 and Cook’s Wages in January = $1000 (approx.). $1870 vs. $2172 shows we paid about $300 to operate CACFP in January. Not too bad to feed hungry kids great food! Typically these are the costs during the year. We either break-even or pay a small portion to operate the program.

Our organization is proud to be an independent sponsor of CACFP and SFSP. We believe that providing children nutrient-rich food is extremely important for their healthy physical development. We hope our example shows how a successful meal program can nearly pay for itself with the reimbursement from Oregon Dept. of Education. We hope you join our efforts in feeding the children within the state of Oregon!

Contact Information: Toby J. Winn, Executive Director Address: 634 SE Highway 101 Depoe Bay, Oregon 97341