Partnerships Prove Successful for the 2007 Summer Feeding Program

The Office of the Mayor and the City Recreation and Parks Department teamed up with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system for the 2007 Summer Feeding Program, in order to increase awareness and the number of children served by the school system's Child Nutrition program.

In a truly joint effort, the Mayor's office worked to coordinate citizen voluteers while the school system and their Child Nutrition department provided cafeteria locations, staff and food.  The city's Recreation and Parks Department provided organized programs.

Through a joint press conference with Mayor Joines and Dr. Martin at Carver High School, meeting with community groups, newspaper coverage and online volunteer sign-up applications, the 2007 Program had more than 50 volunteers.  Volunteers ranging from individuals, to religious groups and community organizations to businesses signed-up to help out at the feeding sites.

Volunteers helped to supervise children in the cafeterias as well as assisted cafeteria staff clean tables, chairs and floors in between lunch groups.  Calvary Baptist Church sponsored the entire Hanes Hosiery Recreation Center during the full summer vacation with daily breakfast and lunch, as well as volunteers.  Volunteers played music for the children during meals and have discussed the possibility of teaching music during a future Program.

Through the Leadership Winston-Salem Action Learning Program, it was discovered that North Carolina returned over $7 million in federal funds that were available for summer feeding programs but never used.  According to Dr. Martin, "Last year, we had an average of 1690 children a day over the summer, compared with 24,000 students who qualify for reduced or free meals.  So, we know there are children who were not served last year."  The Leadership group recommended an action plan to Mayor Joines to increase the number of children fed in Forsyth County.

Mayor Joines and Dr. Martin were motivated to increase the number of children who receive a hot and nutritious meal during their summer break.  "Proper nutrition is essential to keep our students healthy and active over the summer," Martin said.

The partnership between the school system and the Mayor's office proved to be a huge success, with an 17% increase in the number of lunches served.  Breakfast was also offered for the first time, serving over 18,000 meals!  But there is still room to grow.  The Mayor's office will continue to partner with the school system for the coming 2008 Summer Feeding Program, and will have several meetings between November 2007 and April 2008.  These meetings will assist in developing new programs and enlist more community organizations to help eliminate hungry children during summer vacation.