1. A Project of the Worcester Food & Active Living Policy
Council
2007 – 2011
Hunger-Free & Healthy
Reducing Hunger, Increasing Healthy Food
Access
2. Purpose
Celebrate the work and collaboration of the past
five years.
Provide indicators of success (to date). Final
report – February 2012.
3. Background
Project of the Worcester Food & Active Living
Policy Council.
Funded through the Health Care and Health
Promotion Synergy Initiative of the Health
Foundation of Central Massachusetts.
Planned in 2007, piloted in 2008 and has been in
its implementation phase since 2009.
Completion 2011-2012.
4. Overview
1. Support and advocate for the increased availability of
nutritious and locally grown foods in Worcester Public
Schools (WPS).
2. Improve access to healthy affordable foods in low-
income and underserved communities.
3. Increase opportunities for youth and adults to reconnect
with their food through cooking and gardening.
4. Increase knowledge and awareness of community food
security, hunger and inequities in the food system, as
well as strategies to solve problems locally.
5. Ensure the sustainability of the project components.
Hunger-Free & Healthy is a collaborative project that aims
to reduce hunger and food insecurity in the city of
Worcester, Massachusetts. The primary strategy goals are
to:
5. Steering Committee
Congressman McGovern’s Office
The Health Foundation of Central MA
Project Bread
Regional Environmental Council
Saint Vincent Hospital
UMass Medical School
UMass Memorial
United Way of Central MA
Worcester County Food Bank
Worcester Dept. of Transitional Assistance
Worcester Public Schools
6. Essential Partners
Catholic Charities
Cooking Matters/Share
Our Strength
Centro Las Americas
Edward M. Kennedy
Health Center
Family Health Center of
Worcester
Jeremiah’s Inn
Mass in Motion
Mass. Public Health
Association
Pioneering Healthier
Communities
• Pleasant Street
Neighborhood Network
Center
• Worcester Community
Action Council
• Worcester Department of
Public Health
• Worcester Housing
Authority
• Worcester School
Committee members
• Worcester State
University
• YMCA of Central MA
• YWCA of Central MA
7. Project Strategies
1. Improving school meals in Worcester Public
Schools;
2. Increasing the SNAP (formerly Food Stamps)
participation rate;
3. Establishing farmers’ markets in low-income areas
of the city;
4. Increasing the number of school gardens in
Worcester Public Schools;
5. Offering free nutrition-based cooking classes to low-
income families and teens;
6. Increasing communication and collaboration among
organizations, individuals and institutions involved in
this work;
7. Advocating for policies and systems change that
supports this work;
8. Securing on-going funding and support for project
8. School Meals
Why?
2005 census showing us that in the 14 low-income
tracts in Worcester, 1 in 3 children lived in a household
that at times did not have enough food.
Children get up to two-thirds of their calorie intake in
schools and it is important that those calories be
healthy and nutrient-dense. Project Bread, 2006.
WPS feeds around 15,800 student lunches, 9,500
breakfasts, and 1,400 snacks each day at 60 different
school sites.
Meal participation rate is at about 70% and roughly
72% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
9. School Meals
Our Focus:
Universal Breakfast Program
Now in 16 schools, all have 80% or more
Free/Reduced eligible students.
General Support & Advocacy
Locally grown produce
Improvements to the healthfulness of the school
meals program and snack programs.
10. School Meals
With this community support, the School Nutrition Director
has:
Increased the number of schools participating in the
Universal Breakfast program, bringing the total to 16.
Increased the number of schools participating in the Get
Fresh, Get Local snack program, bringing the total
participating schools from 4 to 10.
Modified her contract with Preferred Meals to require
them to purchase locally when in season, provide fresh
fruit and vegetables at least four days per week, and
ensure that 90% of bread products are whole grain.
Diversified her procurement to incorporate more local
vendors and more nutritious foods.
Advocated for Garelick Farms to remove high fructose
corn syrup from their flavored milk lines.
11. School Meals
In addition, Hunger-Free & Healthy has:
Participated in the School Health Council
subcommittee to revise and update the district
Wellness Policy.
Advocated for the passage of the School Nutrition
Bill. This legislation also increased the limits of
purchasing locally, allowing school districts to
develop contracts of up to $25,000 per farm.
12.
13. SNAP (formerly Food Stamps)
Why?
Crucial for low-income families to establish food
security.
In 2004, of the estimated 659,000 Food Stamp
eligible people living in Massachusetts, 49% were
enrolled in SNAP; this statistic ranked
Massachusetts as one of the poorest performing
states in SNAP participation.
14. SNAP
April 2009 – August 2011
Number of applications submitted 493
Average approval rating 62%
Average benefit procured $185/month
Total benefits:
2009 (May – Dec)
2010
2011 (through August)
$76,764.00
$89,868.00
$86,677.00
Race/Ethnicity
White
Black
Hispanic/Latino
Asian
Unknown/Other
38.5%
8.6%
36.0%
2.2%
14.2%
Children served 261
18. SNAP
Increasing number of applicants, contacts and site
visits over time.
Approval rating has stayed steady.
Cumulative benefits increases yearly.
Increasing improvement in reaching minority
communities (specifically Black and Latino)
More children reached each year.
Massachusetts has risen to 8th in the nation in SNAP
participation rates, with nearly 77.6% of eligible
households participating in the program.
19. Farmers’ Markets
Why?
Low-income neighborhoods in
Worcester have more food
insecurity, higher rates of diet-related
disease, less access to fresh foods.
Existing farmers’ markets were not in
low-income areas and did not accept
SNAP benefits.
20. Farmers’ Market
Main South Farmers’ Market
Piloted 2009, Full season 2010, 2011
Great Brook Valley Farmers’ Market
Full season 2010, 2011
Transitioned to mobile market in Sept. 2011
24. Educational Gardens
Why?
Growing food is a self-sufficiency strategy
Increasing disconnection with where our food comes
from.
25. Educational Gardens
1. Fanning Adult
Learning Center
2. Jacob Hiatt
3. Columbus Park
4. May Street
5. Grafton Street
6. Belmont Elementary
7. Greendale Head Start
8. South High
Community School
9. Worcester Technical
High School
10. Doherty Memorial
High School
11. Mill Swan Head Start
12. Quinsigamond Village
Community Center
26. Educational Gardens
Engages students, teachers, staff across subjects
and grade levels in hands on learning.
Used both during school and in after school
programs.
Produce incorporated into school meals.
Creates partnerships with surrounding
community.
29. Cooking Classes
Partnership with Cooking Matters/Share Our
Strength, nationally renowned nutrition-based
cooking curriculum for adults, teens, children.
Free 6-week class for low-income participants
includes weekly bag of groceries and other
incentives.
Meals based on $10/meal for a family of four.
Taught by volunteer professional chefs and
nutritionists.
30. Cooking Classes
155 adults and youth have graduated since 2008.
Fanning Adult Learning Center
Plumley Village
Worcester Housing Authority
Girls and Boys Club
YouthGROW
Dynamy Youth Academy
Participation rate of 80%.
31. Cooking Classes
From a random sample of students that participated
during 2009 and 2010, survey data shows that by the
end of the course, graduates reported that:
73% are eating more vegetables
62% are eating more fruits
80% are eating more whole grains
47% are eating more low-fat or fat-free dairy
49% are eating more lean meats
90% improved their cooking skills
93% made an Eating Right Recipe at home
100% would recommend Eating Right to a friend
32.
33. Sustainability
School Meals
Director of Nutrition’s commitment
Strengthened Wellness Policy
Participation in Health Council
Legislation: MA School Nutrition Bill
34. Sustainability
SNAP
Ongoing outreach through Project Bread and
Worcester County Food Bank
USDA matching funds for outreach
SNAP Working Group
Local SNAP advisory council
Strong relationship with DTA
Advocacy for increased state funds for admin at
DTA
35. Sustainability
Farmers’ Market
REC’s commitment
USDA Community Food Project Funding
Continual growing success will leverage funds
Advocacy in Farm Bill for Farmers’ Market
Promotion Program funds
37. Sustainability
Cooking Classes
REC is a satellite partner and has
Mass Promise Fellow
Cooking Matters Massachusetts
Central Mass Coordinator
Growing partnerships with grocery
stores
39. THANK YOU!
All our community partners
Health Foundation of Central MA
Evaluators Lynne Man and Stewart
Landers
Project Directors Jean McMurray &
Dennis Irish
Hinweis der Redaktion
This year 42% of sales were by low-income shoppers