1. Kickoffs 101

2. Kickoffs 101: SFSP Marketing and Outreach Strategies

3. Why Are Kickoff Events Important? Demonstrate the community’s commitment to the SFSP. Inform families on how to locate a summer meal sites in their communities. Build a fun and welcoming atmosphere around the SFSP. Engage elected officials and media outlets to help raise awareness about the SFSP.

4. Kickoff Planning: Checklists Utilizing checklists can be enormously helpful to: – Delegate tasks – Provide a clear timeline for event planning – Set goals for members of your planning team

5. Engaging Media Outlets According to a study done by No Kid Hungry of Illinois, the number one predictor of growth at kick-off sites was media involvement.

6. Engaging Elected Officials Elected officials are crucial advocates for our programs. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your federal, state & local officials. Find your elected officials at: – www.malegislature.gov/People/Search. www.malegislature.gov/People/Search Your event doesn’t need to be huge. Just reaching out to elected officials and reminding them of the fantastic work federally funded, state administered program this is doing for our communities. Simply inviting them to serve lunch during your program can work. Remember: summer programs allow elected officials to celebrate the good work being done across Massachusetts.

7. Ideas for Kickoff Events Have attending dignitaries cut ribbon on the first day of SFSP in respective communities. Get the USDA’s Power Panther to attend your kickoff. Please download the toolkit here.Please download the toolkit here. Ask local businesses to hand out freebies or local food bank or local community organizations to hand out backpacks of food or incentives to program participants. Collaborate with other community organizations hosting events. Offer elected officials and stakeholders the opportunity to make brief remarks. Offer special programming on the day of the event to increase attendance.

8. Samantha Bennett Child Nutrition Outreach Community Relations Coordinator samantha_bennett@projectbread.org 617-239-2578 samantha_bennett@projectbread.org

9. FoodPlay Productions Thanks Hannaford! A True Community Health Hero Thanks Hannaford! A True Community Health Hero ToBe Fit - The Juggling Nutrition Magician Learn to Juggle with ToBe Fit!

10. Springfield Public Schools

11. Parks Recreation & Beaches City of New Bedford 181 Hillman St. Building 3 New Bedford, Ma 508-961-3015 infoPRB@newbedford-ma.gov

12. Special Guests OP the Cyclops Productions brettsylvia.com Thank You Project Bread

13. Celebrate with Something New

14. PARTNERSHIPS

15. Partnerships Open Studios at Rope Works

16. Play in the Park Summer Food Service Program At National Get Outdoors Day

17. Special Programs

18. Give aways

20. East Boston YMCA