#millionmeals

Today I completed a volunteer information sheet. It has basic information. It's a great resource for volunteers! Campaign Corps members can feel free to use this and tailor it for your site or use it to learn more about this great program!

- Brooke

_______________________________________________________

Summer Meals Program 2013 Volunteer Information Sheet

_______________________________________________________

The Problem and the Solution:

*Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance once school begins again. 

  About 99,000 school children rely on free or reduced-price lunch during the school year. But in the summer, only 1 in 7 takes part in free meal programs. So in hundreds of locations, community partners are setting up meal and activity sites where meals will be made available at no charge to attending children 1- 18. The Summer Food Service Program for Children is designed to fill out nutrition game and make sure children can get the nutritious meal they need.

Polices and Rules:

Meals are only available for children and teens ages 1-18. Children CANNOT share their meal with adults or caregivers that come to the meal programs.

Children must eat meals on site. Children* cannot take meals home.

YMCA Meal Program sites will have Share Boxes.  Unwanted and untouched food can be left in a Share Box. Children must stay at site to eat extra meals from the share box. However children can take fruit or vegetables home.

Children must receive a full meal. *(for lunch)

One serving of milk (8 fluid oz.)

Two or more servings of fruits, or two or more servings of vegetables, or two or more fruits and vegetables (3/4 cup total)

One serving of grain or bread (1/2 cup or 1 oz.)

One serving of meat or meat alternate (2 oz.)

Meals are only served during approved meal service times. Check with your supervisor when your sites meal times are.

Meals programs are part of USDA programing. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities:

Assist supervisor with daily tasks, oversight and goals of the program.

Follow the policies and procedures of program.

Interact with youth and families in program.

Lead activities and games with youth.

HAVE FUN!!!

_______________________________________________________

** 

Information on meal statistics taken from:  http://www.shorelineareanews.com/2013/06/dale-turner-family-ymca-summer-meals.html

"Look at this Frozen Cheese!" (EUGENE) It's hard to believe it's only been three days of actually working at the sites with kids -- it feels like I've been doing this for months. That being said, I routinely arrived to my site this morning at an apartment complex and knew the drill. But when I opened a cooler I saw ice all over what was labeled as "Hot off the Grill" grilled cheese sandwiches. I thought this was fine, of course, because usually the bus unloads a heater that keeps food warm. Minutes passed and when we were done setting up, no heater.

The two people from Nutrition Services were flabbergasted, one already knew this was coming because she had noticed when she was loading the bus. They called some higher up and were told to let it thaw. I looked up and saw the clouds were floating in. Great.

I sat down with a few kids after we began serving and one toddler was smashing his "sandwich" because he couldn't bite into it. "This is so hard!" a lot of kids would complain, and all I could tell them was to eat their fruits and vegetables and throw the sandwich away. Thankfully the kids at the site were going on a field trip to the zoo/aquarium after lunch so they were occupied on something else. There wasn't much complaining by the children but that isn't the point of the campaign; they need to eat.

"We're like puppets" said one of the ladies serving, referring to the fact that they didn't make the food but will most likely be blamed for its resemblance to a brick. Communication is definitely a lesson to be learned from this, as there are many intermediaries involved in this entire process. But a more valuable lesson to be learned is that we aren't to be over-glorified. We aren't angels who give free food, we're human. We make mistakes.

Despite the popsicle problem today, this campaign has been going well -- each day at my two sites combined we serve around 150 meals, and I'm getting to know a lot of kids on a more personal level. They have tons of fun with activities and keep coming back. That being said,this blog will record both the ups and downs, so we can learn from our mistakes and look back fondly on our successes. I think that this is necessary for a holistic picture of our experience, frozen cheeses and all.

This summer, the United Way of King County is spearheading a One Million Meals Campaign to feed hungry children. Here are some numbers to highlight the need in King County: 

1 in 5 kids are at risk of hunger

99,000 kids take part in free and reduced lunch programs 

Only 1 in 7 kids eligible for a summer meals program participate

Washington is ranked 40th in the US for summer meals participation

This summer UWKC is using new strategies such as expanding the number of open sites, investing outreach in areas with more lower income families, and and having a Campaign Corps of young individuals who are well invested in their communities. 

That being said, this blog is run by the Campaign Corps who will be sharing many stories of this unique experience to give you an inside look and, hopefully, inspire many of you to volunteer. 

Also if you have any stories of your own, please feel free to submit them to this blog! They may even end up on the UWKC blog!