1. Books and Bites

2. Agenda Introduction of SFSP General Best Practices
Stephanie Maher, Youth Services Librarian at Palmer Public Library
Margaret Perkins, Director at Medway Public Library
Questions/Discussion

3. Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
In Massachusetts, over 200,000 youth live in food insecure homes. Low-income families often rely on school meals to bridge gaps in their food budgets.
In the summertime, this critical source of healthy meals for children disappears in many communities.
SFSP is a federally-funded nutrition program that provides free meals to youth ages 18 and under when school is not in session.
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4. Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
Open vs. Closed Sites
An open site provides free meals to any youth at the site. No registration is required to attend. Sites may operate as an open site if the percentage of youth living nearby who are eligible for free or reduced price meals is equal to or higher than 50 percent.
A closed site limits meal participation to youth enrolled in the site’s program(s). Eligibility for a closed site is determined in a variety of ways.

5. Let’s look back… 2015

6. Let’s look back… 2016

7. Let’s look back… 2017

8. Best Practices Staffing matters Teen staffing and engagement Signage
Programming
Choosing the right location
Meal times
Communications and outreach
SummerEats App
Cross-promoting programs

9. Lessons Learned Programming Matters
Collaboration to have the best possible programming
Choose strategic times for meals and programming
Ensure one flows into the other
Community Collaboration
Outreach partners
Programming partners

10. Palmer Public Library Palmer, MA

11. We kicked off the Summer Program with Mini- Golf!

12. It worked out perfectly to have a performance or story time right before lunch!
While they waited in line for food our volunteers got the space ready for lunch!

13. Families would leave the Community Room walk over to our kitchen area and then go back into the Community Room to eat their lunch.
We averaged 35 lunches a day, four times a week, for 6 weeks! That’s about 850 meals served for the summer!

14. Contact Information Stephanie Maher Youth Services Librarian (413) ext. 128

15. At the Medway Public Library
SUMMER LUNCH
At the Medway Public Library

16. Medway Public Library Built as a school in 1940
Residential neighborhood
Town of 13,000 near Route 495, about 12 miles from Rhode Island

17. Typical Lunch
Sandwiches, applesauce, nutritious snack item, and beverages

18. April Vacation Lunch
Sometimes pizza!

19. STEM and Craft activities
STEM and Craft activities changed weekly.

20. DUPLO
A favorite with the little ones

21. Wellness is bringing the family together.
Quoted from: Lucy Anderson, Medway Youth Services Librarian

22. Questions? Margaret Perkins, Director Medway Public Library
26 High Street, Medway, MA 02053
x 3

23. Leran Minc
(617)
Stephanie Maher
(413) ext. 128
Margaret Perkins
(508) ext. 3