HUNGER IMPACT PARTNERS

HUNGER IMPACT PARTNERS PROVIDES GRANTS RANGING FROM 2000-5000 FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION, PROMOTION AND MARKETING, COMPLIANCE TRAINING, START-UP AND INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS, TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, LISTENING SESSIONS, CONVENINGS, AND STAFFING RESOURCES FOR THE SPECIFIC FEDERAL MEAL PROGRAMS WE SUPPORT. AFTER SCHOOL MEALS HIGH-QUALITY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR LOW-INCOME KIDS HELP CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, KEEPS THEM SAFE AND DEVELOPS SKILLS FOR SUCCESS. OUR GRANTS ADDRESS BARRIERS INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS, LACK OF EXPOSURE AND EDUCATION OF THE PROGRAM AND ITS VALUE TO STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. TARGETING MARGINALIZED NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE COMMUNITY ELIGIBLE FOR MEAL SUPPORTS, WE COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT OR REMEDIAL PROGRAMS TO HELP THEM ESTABLISH MEAL SPONSORS SO THEY CAN SERVE MEALS DURING THEIR PROGRAMMING. WE FOCUS ON MEAL GAPS AND SUPPORT MEAL SPONSOR EDUCATION, RECRUITING AND TRAININGS. AS PLANNED, WE ESTABLISHED 8 NEW AFTER SCHOOL MEAL SERVING SITES REACHING 500 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR. SUMMER MEALS & BEYOND WE CREATED THE FREE MEALS FOR KIDS MOBILE APP AND MANAGE, EXPAND, AND PROMOTE IT. DEVELOPED INITIALLY TO HELP KIDS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND SAFETY NET SERVICE PROVIDERS LOCATE MEALS, FOOD, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. IT HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CHILDCARE CENTER SITES OFFERING MEALS, AFTER-SCHOOL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS SERVING MEALS, SUMMER PROGRAMS THAT OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS, FREE FAMILY MEALS SITES, HOLIDAY FOOD GIVEAWAYS, BACKPACK PROGRAMS, FARE FOR ALL GROCERY SITES, TWIN CITIES MOBILE MARKET LOCATIONS, AND FREE SUMMER FEEDING SITES IN ECONOMICALLY ELIGIBLE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE CONTINUE TO RECRUIT NEW MEAL SPONSORS AND FUND EXPANSION FOR EXISTING SITES WHICH IS PART OF OUR CORE LOCAL COMMUNITY FUNDING STRATEGY. SITES ARE LOCATED AT PARKS, REC CENTERS, LIBRARIES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEXES, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS-PUBLIC, PRIVATE, CHARTER, AND TRIBAL SITES. THE APP IS ALSO USED TO INFORM USERS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORTS, OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH STUDIES, AND TIME-SENSITIVE INFORMATION VIA A "PUSH" NOTIFICATION FEATURE. WE HAVE NEARLY 48,000 ACTIVE USERS STATEWIDE. CHILDCARE CENTER MEALS WORKING WITH OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD NETWORK OF PARTNERS, WE RECRUIT CENTERS WHO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE MEALS BUT ARE NOT BY DEVELOPING A QUALIFIED LEAD GENERATION PROCESS "LET'S EAT" THAT CAN SCREEN FOR CITATIONS, SITE CAPACITY, AND PERCENTAGE OF FREE/REDUCED CHILDREN. WE PROVIDE EDUCATION ON CACFP, GUIDES FOR EVALUATING SPONSORS AND DEVELOPED A SELF-SPONSOR TOOLKIT. WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR FEDERAL/STATE PROGRAM CHANGES IN CACFP TO EASE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN OF OPERATING SPONSORS. WE FUND TABLETS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR WEB-BASED RECORD-KEEPING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PLATFORMS TO AID MULTI-SPONSORS WITH REPORTING AND COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS. WE MANAGE A NETWORK INITIATIVE WITH SALVATION ARMY, YMCA, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, AND HEADSTART TO UTILIZE CACFP FOR MEALS OFFERED AT THEIR SITES. WE HAVE HELPED 17 CHILDCARE CENTERS START MEAL PROGRAMS NOW FEEDING 500 CHILDREN BIRTH TO 5. HEALTHY FOOD FROM BIRTH TO 5 WITH ONLY 50% OF CHILDREN AGES 1-4 ENROLLED IN WIC IN MN, WE HOST FREQUENT LISTENING SESSIONS LEARNING ABOUT BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION. FOCUSING ON CHILDREN AGES 2-4 WHOSE FAMILIES ARE NOT ENROLLED, WE DEVELOPED WITH THE UOFM SCHOOL OF NURSING A PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICUM TO PROVIDE FREE MEDICAL CHECK-UPS FOR 25 FAMILIES AT LICENSED CHILDCARE CENTERS TO FACILITATE CERTIFICATION IN WIC AND REMOTE ENROLLMENT FOR ELIGIBLE CHILDREN. WE CREATED A WIC PROMOTION VIDEO FOR CHILDCARE CENTERS TO EDUCATE FAMILIES ON WIC'S NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS AND ONLINE SHOPPING OPTION. WE ALSO WORK WITH WIC AGENCIES IN RAMSEY AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE WE ORGANIZED THAT INCLUDES THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS/MN CHAPTER, HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE, AFRICAN AMERICAN BABIES COALITION AND HEAD START.