No Kid Hungry Florida - 2024 Summer Meals Toolkit
2024 Summer Meals Florida Toolkit
We know that when kids and teens have consistent access to healthy food, they have the fuel they need to grow and thrive. When school lets out for the summer, kids lose access to at least two healthy meals each day. Fortunately, summer meals programs ensure that kids and teens have the nutrition they need to return to school in the fall nourished and ready to learn.
We deeply appreciate your commitment to ensuring there's No Kid Hungry this summer. With that in mind, we're thrilled to present this toolkit that includes tools, templates, language, and images that can be used in Florida to promote and celebrate summer meal programs. We encourage you to spread the word about the benefits of summer meals, emphasizing how they can contribute to the well-being of our community while also saving families time and money. Together, we can make a difference!
Summer Meals Program Key Details: 1
Key Strategies for Marketing & Promoting Your Sites 1
Boosting Participation with Engaging Activities 2
Sample Language for Newsletter/Website: 5
Customizable Flyers to Promote Summer Meal Sites: 7
Summer Meals Program Key Details:
🍽️ Meals are completely FREE for children and teens ages 18 and under.
🚫 No need for applications or registrations – it's hassle-free!
🏫 You can find us at designated public schools, community centers, libraries, parks, and even food trucks!
🌟 Our program is federally funded, ensuring accessibility for all.
🥗 Meals are healthy and follow USDA nutrition guidelines.
🏞️ In some rural areas, meals may be offered through grab-and-go, parent pick-up, or home delivery.
Key Strategies for Marketing & Promoting Your Sites
🌟 Host Community Events:
- Kick-off Celebration:
- Feature a special menu to create a memorable start.
- Include local leaders and partners to show community support.
- Partner with local businesses for event giveaways like beach balls, sunglasses, frisbees, water bottles, and drawstring backpacks.
- Mid-Summer “Spike Event”:
- Renew interest in summer meals and increase participation by hosting a special event in late July or early August.
- Invite local leaders, plan fun activities, and include a music concert, health fair, or other family-friendly events.
- Use Event Planning Tools:
- Use Eventbrite to plan and coordinate your events seamlessly.
- Post event dates as open Facebook events to reach a larger audience.
📰 Media Outreach:
- Customize and submit this template press release to local news outlets to announce the launch of your summer meals program.
📝 Sample Letter to Parents/Caregivers:
- Customize this template letter to parents and caregivers to announce your summer meals program. This letter notifies parents of the availability of the summer meals program, encouraging participation and emphasizing the benefits to families.
🤝 Engage Elected Officials:
Engaging elected officials is paramount in garnering support and raising awareness for summer meals programs. Here's how you can involve them effectively:
- Share a short program blurb for their monthly constituent newsletters.
- Request a summer meals proclamation by using our template (state or local) to recognize the importance of summer meals programs in addressing child hunger and food insecurity.
- Invite officials to attend events to show support using our customizable invitation template
- Utilize this comprehensive toolkit to equip elected officials with the resources and information they need to actively promote and support summer meals programs.
Boosting Participation with Engaging Activities
Pairing activities with meals is a strategic approach that significantly boosts program participation and retention rates during the summer. This practice has proven to be instrumental in creating a more dynamic and engaging environment for participants, fostering increased engagement, efficient forecasting, and providing continued learning opportunities.
🎈 Decorate Your Site: Transform your site into a vibrant and inviting space with balloons, posters drawn by the kids – anything to make it festive and welcoming.
🎉 Organize Raffles: Spark excitement among participating children by organizing raffles with kid-friendly prizes. This adds an element of fun and incentive to the program.
🏃♂️ Interactive Activities: Integrate interactive activities like cooking demonstrations, art projects, or sports challenges to foster engagement and promote holistic development among participants. Creating a dynamic and inclusive environment encourages regular attendance and strengthens community bonds.
🎨 Enhance Mealtime Excitement: Elevate the dining experience by serving special menus featuring kids' favorites and implementing theme weeks throughout the summer. Consider giving your usual menu items new, creative names to make mealtime more exciting, and add variety and anticipation with themed weeks like "Christmas in July" to make the program more memorable for children.
👦👧 Engage Youth Input: Encourage participation and ownership by involving youth in the planning process. Ask for feedback to understand their preferences better and tailor activities and menus to suit their needs. Utilize surveys and interactive feedback mechanisms to gather insights and ensure the program aligns with their interests.
🌞 Summer Food, Summer Moves: This resource kit by the USDA is designed to get kids excited about healthy eating and physical activity during the summer months. Access downloadable and printable materials or order free printed resources available for participating schools, childcare providers, and summer meals programs.
Sample Social Media Posts:
English
👦🏽👧🏼 Keep our kids and teens fueled up this summer with free meals across our community. Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304 to find a site near you.
🌞🍽️ Save time and stress this summer! Enjoy free summer meals for kids and teens! No forms, no fuss. Just swing by for nutritious meals all summer long. Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304 to find a site near you.
🍽️🍉Lunch is on us! Save time and money preparing meals for your kids and stop by SCHOOL/PROGRAM during [TIME FRAME] for free food and fun. To learn more, call 1-XXX-XXX-XXX or visit: WEBSITE.
🌞🍽️We’ll be serving free meals for kids and teens from TIME FRAME at LOCATION. Stop by! This week, we’ll be serving some tasty meals including EXAMPLE OF MEAL. To learn more, call 1-XXX-XXX-XXX or visit: WEBSITE.
👦🏽👧🏼 We’re providing free meals for kids and teens 18 and under Monday through Friday at LOCATION. Stop by with your family between [TIME] and [TIME] to enjoy lunch on us. To learn more, call 1-XXX-XXX-XXX or visit: WEBSITE.
🌟🍎 Power up your summer with delicious and nutritious meals! Kids and teens can enjoy FREE meals that meet USDA nutrition guidelines at our summer meal sites. Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304 to find a site near you.
Spanish
👦🏽👧🏼 ¡Aseguremos que nuestros niños y adolescentes estén bien alimentados este verano con comidas gratuitas en nuestra comunidad! Envía la palabra COMIDA al 304-304 para encontrar un lugar cerca de ti.
🌞🍽️ ¡Ahorra tiempo y estrés este verano! ¡Disfruta de comidas gratuitas para niños y adolescentes! Sin formularios, sin complicaciones. Simplemente pasa por aquí para disfrutar de comidas nutritivas durante todo el verano. Envía la palabra COMIDA al 304-304 para encontrar un lugar cerca de ti.
🌞🍎 La preparación de las comidas es un trabajo. Deja que nosotros nos encargamos de ello. Únete a nosotros en [ESCUELA/PROGRAMA] durante [HORARIO] para comidas gratuitas y diversión para niños y adolescentes de 18 años o menos. Conoce más llamando llama al 1-XXX-XXX-XXX o visita: SITIO WEB.
🌟🍎 Estaremos sirviendo comidas gratuitas para niños y adolescentes durante [HORARIO] en LUGAR. Llega hasta allí. Esta semana, estaremos sirviendo algunas comidas sabrosas incluyendo EJEMPLO DE COMIDA. Conoce más llamando al 1-XXX-XXX-XXX o visita: SITIO WEB.
WhatsApp:
This summer, families can use WhatsApp to find free summer meals for kids and teens in your community! WhatsApp is a popular messaging app. Families can also visit NoKidHungry.org/WhatsApp to find local summer meal sites.
Click here to view an instructional video on using Whatsapp.
WhatsApp - Sample Social Media Posts:
English
Need help feeding your kids this summer? @NoKidHungry can help! Just go to NoKidHungry.org/WhatsApp to find free meals sites in your neighborhood. No questions asked, just free and healthy meals for your kids and teens!
@NoKidHungry is ensuring kids and teens have access to essential meals this summer, recognizing the importance of consistent nutrition outside of the school year. Discover nearby free meal options at NoKidHungry.org/WhatsApp. No inquiries necessary—just nutritious meals for anyone aged 18 and under!
Spanish
¿Necesitas ayuda para alimentar a tus hijos este verano? Simplemente visita NoKidHungry.org/WhatsApp para encontrar sitios de comidas gratuitas en tu comunidad. ¡Sin preguntas, solo comidas gratis y saludables para tus niños y adolescentes! @NoKidHungry #ShareSummer
@NoKidHungry está asegurando que los niños y adolescentes tengan acceso a comidas esenciales este verano, reconociendo la importancia de una nutrición constante fuera del año escolar. Descubre opciones de comidas gratuitas cercanas en NoKidHungry.org/WhatsApp. ¡No se requieren preguntas, solo comidas nutritivas para cualquier persona de 18 años o menos! #ComparteElVerano
Sample Language for Newsletter/Website:
English
Save your family time and money with free summer meals for your kids this summer! No application or registration needed, just stop by and enjoy. To find meal sites near you text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304. You can also call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY for more information.
Spanish
¡Ahorre tiempo y dinero a su familia con las comidas de verano gratuitas para sus hijos este verano! No es necesario hacer una solicitud ni inscribirse, sólo llegar hasta allí y disfrutar. Para encontrar sitios de comidas cerca de usted, textee FOOD o COMIDA al 304-304. También puede llamar a línea nacional contra el hambre al 1-877-8-HAMBRE para obtener más información.
Summer Meal Graphics:
(Right click and save desired graphics above)
>>>CLICK HERE<<< to access ALL To-Go assets as PNG files
Customizable Flyers to Promote Summer Meal Sites:
(Right click and save desired graphics above)
>>>CLICK HERE<<< to access printable To-Go assets as PDF files
Summer Hunger Hero Award:
It's always a good time to celebrate the dedication of nutrition staff at summer meal sites. They work tirelessly to ensure every child receives nutritious meals during the summer break. Recognizing their hard work is not only a gesture of appreciation but also a source of inspiration for them to continue their impactful work. You can honor Summer Hunger Heroes and their vital role in feeding our community's children by filling out the template below and giving it to them!
(Right click and save desired graphics above or download it here)
Additional Resources:
Complete No Kid Hungry Summer Meals Outreach Toolkit
USDA - Food and Nutrition Services Summer EBT Outreach Toolkit
Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Meals
No Kid Hungry’s Center for Best Practices Summer Meals Webpage
Boost Engagement in Your Non-Congregate Summer Meals Program Through Marketing and Promotion - Webinar & One Pager