1. 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

2. 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%)

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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)

6. Is the food that Kids Food Basket provides being eaten?

7. Results—Child Interviews
Waste Study

8. What is being eaten most? What is being wasted?

9. Results—Waste Study

10. Is the program reaching children & families in need?

11. Thank you!
Questions?

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