A Full Plate of Food and Fun when School is Out

As final school bells ring and students across the nation start their summer vacations, more than 21 million children will lose access to the free or reduced-cost meals they received during the school year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). To address hunger in communities, the Y is partnering with Walmart for the second consecutive year to help expand the number of children who receive meals this summer to supplement the USDA's Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals to children aged 18 and under. More than 300 Ys nationwide will offer summer food programs and aim to serve 5 million nutritious meals and snacks to 100,000 children until the new school year begins.

As part of the YMCA's summer food program, children will receive up to two meals a day and participate in recreational and learning activities to keep their bodies and minds active. The YMCA's summer food program will help children stay well-nourished, active and energized all summer long, and also provide some important relief to struggling families.

Healthy bodies create healthy communities, so we care about child nutrition. Learn more about our summer food program directly from the participating Ys themselves and find a participating Y near you.

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Dyer County (Dyersburg, TN): August 31, 2012

With over 5,000 area youth qualified to participate in the annual summer feeding program, the program here at the YMCA of Dyer County is more than just about a free meal.  Working with our local partners, from the Dyersburg Parks to the Tennessee State University Cooperative Extension, this year we are passionately devoted making the program a comprehensive experience that addresses nutrition, physical activity, and education for the at-risk community of Dyer County. 

Across our seventeen meal sites, the children only had regular access to a healthy, freshly-prepared meal, they learned about nutrition.  We wanted these kids to walk away with an understanding on how what they eat makes a difference in not only their immediate appearance, but in their energy, their mental and emotional health, and their overall growth.  We wanted them to appreciate the effort put into growing food and the process it takes to have it prepared for their plates.  Once they understand the “why” and the “how” of food, they will be more careful about the “what” that goes into their mouths.

According to the Tennessee Literacy Coalition, one in every eight adult Tennesseans cannot read, and our Y has made it a mission that this issue ends with the younger generation.  This year we provided educational opportunities throughout the summer, focusing on literacy and reading programs.  The YMCA of the USA believes in filling the vacation months of the school year with vibrant learning opportunities to ensure students are always progressing academically.

This summer the Dyersburg City Schools began the Early Literacy for Families (ELF) program to blend community and school.  In this innovative program, teachers and teaching assistants are actively and physically involved with a child’s summer.  Research shows children achieve better in school after being exposed to reading at a young age, and in our commitment to facilitating scholastic achievement, seven of our food program locations hosted ELF this summer.

In addition to the hosting ELF program, we worked with the McIver’s Grant Public Library to further help kids explore new ways to understand their world through written and read words.  For the past two summers, we had campers involved with the library’s summer reading program and noticed that when these campers made a visit to the library a part of their routine, they appeared to take the time each day to read.  Since many of our summer food sites this year were not conveniently located by the library, the library allowed five summer food sites to be remote locations for children to enjoy books, including checking them out for borrowing. 

The other sites enjoyed dedicated time to storytelling and reading, and all participants regardless of location were able to participate in an incentive-based program that rewarded them for reading.

Not long ago, we celebrated the end of this year’s summer program with a pool party, complete with lunch and door prizes.  With over 450 of the 1,000 summer food program participants in attendance, we themed this swim event a back-to-school party and got the kids excited about going back to school.  With a full summer of reading and exercise under their belt, we know they are ready for a new year of learning.

The Y is often mistaken as a fitness organization, but we are more than that.  We believe in healthy living, yes, but through this program, healthy living is more than just the 21,000 lunches and 8,000 breakfasts we provided this summer.  Our commitment to healthy living for the youth means that they come to understand nutrition, to make their bodies strong, and to prepare their minds to take on any physical, emotional, and academic challenge that awaits them.

This summer food program is not new.  It began as the Act for Hungry Children in 1973 and has been a part of Dyer County since 1986, and it is not a strictly Y program.  We are only a small part of this great effort by local organizations to expand this program.  Our partners and we together share a vision to encourage our kids to adopt exercise, sound nutrition, and literacy activities as lifelong habits that will positively impact our community immediately and for decades to come.

There are good things that are ahead for the people of Dyer County.  At the Y, we take seriously the daily opportunity to have this next generation ready at their very best.  We’re for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Erie (Erie, PA): August 27, 2012: Gooey Marshmallows Create Backyard Camping Experience for Kids

I knelt down next to a child to help him put his marshmallow on the roasting stick, asking, “Have you ever roasted a marshmallow before?”

“Only in the microwave,” he replied.

It was at that moment that I knew our efforts through the Summer Foods Nutrition Program and our partnership with the United Way to host National Night Out on August 7 would be memorable for the kids and families.

August 7, 2012 is set aside as America’s “night out” to strengthen neighborhood spirit.  The United Way of Erie County has been a sponsor of National Night Out since 2005.  In early May, the United Way sent out requests for proposal for mini-grants to support nonprofits in hosting National Night Out events.

“This year, we asked our National Night Out partners to join our efforts to reduce poverty by bringing neighbors together, share information about resources and build stronger neighborhoods,” says United Way of Erie County’s Community Building Manager Mike Jaruszewicz. “We can help ensure all young people in Erie County grow up supported and nurtured by their families, schools and community and become healthy adults who contribute positively to society.”

The Y submitted a joint grant request with our Summer Foods Nutrition Program partners the Multicultural Resource Center and the neighborhood watch Eastside Eagles to create a “backyard” campout for the kids and families.

Like most inner-city neighborhoods, this neighborhood lacks green space and nearby places to play.  Thankfully, the Multicultural Resource Center has acquired and repurposed land in which they created a fresh fruits and vegetables garden and green space games for neighborhood children.  Adjacent to the church where we normally serve dinner, this was the site of our National Night Out activities.

Our Y staff and volunteers arrived about an hour before families were set to come and got right to work setting up our tent, getting our chimney fire started, and figuring out what camp fire songs to sing.

The neighborhood watch volunteers manned the grill, serving hot dogs, snow cones, and drinks for all. 

I’ve never roasted so many marshmallows as I did that night.  I bet at least 300 kids and families roasted marshmallows; some kids eating so many that I had to caution them about a belly ache!

The tent was also a big hit: the kids going inside, and just laughing!  An officer from the Juvenile Probation Department kept “scaring” the kids by shaking the tent poles: they would scream and laugh till their belly hurt.

We had a wonderful time and I walked away saying “this was a great Y night” – those moments when what we do at the Y feels so good! 

Thank you to the United Way of Erie County, Y-USA and Walmart for helping us serve our community, creating memories for kids and families.  They may not remember my name, but they will remember that night they roasted marshmallows over a real backyard fire, sang Alice the Camel, and “camped” out in a tent – all thanks to the Y.

-- Tammy Roche
Vice President, Financial Development, Membership & Marketing, YMCA of Greater Erie

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Erie (Erie, PA): August 26, 2012

All of Erie County, PA deals with poverty; however, some groups of people, areas, races and age groups are drastically more impoverished than others. Approximately 17 percent of Erie County residents are below the poverty level; that percentage increases to more than 25 percent in the City of Erie. Both city and county rates are above Pennsylvania’s and the national averages.

When the Y partnered with Walmart for our summer food program, we hadn’t really thought about the fact that this program would serve a dual purpose.  First and foremost, the goal was to reduce childhood hunger during the summer months – but, something equally as wonderful, yet unexpected happened too:

We put neighborhood folks to work.

That’s right, we created jobs.

We were able to hire people right form the areas we are serving.  We created 11 new jobs through the Summer Foods Nutrition Program, including first-time jobs for recent high school graduates.  We found the neighborhoods responding very positively from knowing the Y employees because they were directly from their neighborhood. This made the door knocking to come get a free meal more successful, and it strengthened the relationships the kids developed with Y staff throughout the program.

At the time we are blogging, we’re on track to serve around 10,000 meals this summer. The Y not only fed hungry bellies, but we nourished the communities, too.

Even better news: of those 11 new employees, three have accepted permanent positions with the Y after the Summer Foods Nutrition Program ends. 

-- Miranda Linz
YMCA of Greater Erie Marketing Intern

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Erie (Erie, PA): August 25, 2012

When I was asked to visit one of the YMCA of Greater Erie’s Summer Foods Nutrition Program locations, in one of the most poverty stricken areas of Erie, PA, I didn’t know what to expect.

I was familiar with the partnership between the Y and Walmart, and knew that our goal was to reduce childhood hunger by expanding the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program, but I had no idea that I would be so deeply impacted by how this program is affecting the children of our community.

I drove across the city and parked along side the street. I noticed a little girl, who could have been no older than three years old, wandering near the street with no parents (or shoes) in sight.  I sat in my car for a moment, noticing broken windows, unkempt yards, and listless faces.

I got out of my vehicle, making sure it was locked, and crossed the street to the church where dinner was being served.  The exterior of the building seemed to blend into its surroundings. 

Once I entered, I walked down a dimly lit staircase to the basement.  Beyond a doorway, I could hear children’s voices and laughter, so I turned the corner and went into the room.  I was immediately greeted with a big smile and cheerful “hello,” from Steve, a Y volunteer and member of the area’s neighborhood watch group.

The room was bright, welcoming, and smelled deliciously of chicken stir-fry.  I introduced myself, explained that I was interning at the YMCA of Greater Erie this summer, and that I was there to visit with them for a blog I was writing about the Y’s Summer Foods Nutrition Program. 

The children eagerly grabbed my hands and lead me to the crafts they had been working on.  They showed me paintings, popsicle stick projects, and books they were creating.  I sat down with them and listened as they introduced themselves and told me their ages. 

As we talked about their favorite subjects and what they wanted to be when they grew up, Rose Williams, one of the Y’s Summer Foods workers, brought over the books they had been working on.  The children took turns telling me about their stories and illustrations.  “Mine is about a pig,” said 6-year-old Olivia.  “Mine is the ABC’s,” said 12-year-old Santana. “Each letter has a picture that starts with that letter.”  One young boy, Bobby, showed me that his book was about his favorite things, and it included drawings of his family, favorite animals, and basketball.

The children continued to work on their books and I listened to Ms. Rose as she shared with me about the children.  She told me about their wonderful imaginations, gifts, talents and potentials.  She spoke of them as if they were her own children, with much love.

It was nearing 6:30 p.m., so clean-up was next on the agenda.  The kids all helped pick up their crayons, markers, pencils, and foam stick-on shapes.  They stacked their books on a shelf to work on after dinner the next evening.  Bobby called me over and showed me that he added my name to his book of favorite things; my heart melted.   

As I left, I was embraced with hugs from these young people.  They all thanked me for coming, yelling “God bless you, Miss Miranda!”, as they waved good-bye.  Much like my own three children, these children share the same desire to be loved and appreciated.  Despite the hardships and dire need these children face, I realized they and my children have more in common than I originally thought.

Thanks to the Y’s volunteers and staff, and especially their partnership with the Walmart, these children are feeding more than their bellies this summer, they are fueling their futures.

-- Miranda Linz
YMCA of Greater Erie Marketing Intern

BLOG TOUR: John C. Cudahy YMCA (Milwaukee, WI): August 24, 2012

Lunch today was chicken fajitas at the John C. Cudahy YMCA in northwest Milwaukee.

“Oh man, it smells good,” observed one day camper. “This is a good meal!” another camper exclaimed.

The day campers, along with community members between ages 4 and 18, are served breakfast, lunch and dinner every day at the John C. Cudahy YMCA. The Summer Food program helps us to provide additional assistance to our community. Many of these campers come from single parent homes or homes that are struggling financially, and being able to provide meals for children throughout the day helps to relieve stress for parents.

The Summer Food program is often a deciding factor for parents choosing to send their children to the John C. Cudahy YMCA for camp versus another child care facility. And the children really enjoy meal time.

“Our program participants often compare their school lunches to what we offer through the Summer Food program,” said Kendall Hayes, school age site coordinator at the John C. Cudahy YMCA. “Most of the kids say our meals are better than what they receive at school – and some of our staff even want to try it.”

And if the way the chicken fajitas smelled is any indication, the kids are absolutely right – this is a good meal!

BLOG TOUR: South Shore YMCA (Cudahy, WI): August 23, 2012

For day campers at the South Shore YMCA in Cudahy, Wis., meal time is always exciting. That’s because the Y’s Summer Food program provides healthy and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner to about 150 day campers every day at the South Shore YMCA.

The Summer Food program isn’t just exciting for the kids either. The families who take advantage of the program have responded with enthusiasm. In fact, in Cudahy – a community where many of our day campers come from either single parent homes or homes where both parents work every day, we heard nothing but positive feedback on the program. Parents are thankful they don’t have to worry about packing a lunch or buying extra groceries. This year a dinner meal was added, which has allowed busy parents to think about one less thing before rushing their children off to swimming lessons, Tae Kwon Do or soccer.

“When we speak to families about the program, they often give a big sigh of relief,” said Amanda Mills, school age site coordinator at the South Shore YMCA. “The Summer Food program helps us take care of the whole child and leaves our parents feeling confident that their child is being taken care of in every way.”

The South Shore YMCA Summer Food program provided nearly 1,300 meals each week, speaking volumes about the need in the community.

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee (Milwaukee WI): August 23, 2012

This summer, the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee partnered with the Milwaukee Center for Independence to provide free meals for children all summer long at four different Ys around the metro area. Our Northside, Parklawn, South Shore and John C. Cudahy YMCAs each offered breakfast, lunch and dinner to area youth.

Though each of these communities has its own unique characteristics and challenges, the Summer Food program ensured the youth in those areas had access to healthy, balanced meals. “We do not know every child’s specific situation,” said Stephanie Hernandez-Gayfield, program director for day camp and school age at the Northside YMCA. “However, we can guarantee that each child eats three nutritious meals a day.”

In addition to offering free meals, each Center uses the funds from the Summer Food program to help teach the children about health eating, how to make easy, nutritious snacks at home, and how to make good choices about food.

BLOG TOUR: Tiftarea YMCA (Tifton, GA): August 20, 2012

Summer is a time we typically think of fondly; school is out, temperatures are rising, and many look forward to visiting their favorite vacation spot to relax and unwind. While the summer holds many joys and excitements, there are many families who struggle with increased worries over this season. How will they feed their children; will the kids be safe staying home; will there be any way to preserve the kids learning and not have them fall behind during the school break?

In Tift County, Georgia, 68% of our children (over 5,000) qualify for the free and reduced lunch program while in the neighboring Turner County, 85% of students qualify.  The schools provide a tremendous service to many families by serving nutritious meals to our children.  During summertime, these children still have need of this assistance but are no longer in school to benefit from this nourishment.

Food for Thought is a program designed to fulfill this need.  The Tiftarea YMCA , Tift County Board of Education, Turner County Board of Education, and  Turner County Connection Communities in Schools of Turner County partner together to utilize the USDA’s Seamless Summer Program and provide free healthy meals throughout our community to any child 18 and under.  Thanks to Walmart, Food for Thought has been able to take nutritious meals directly to the children who so desperately need them.  Food distribution sites are available at over 24 locations throughout two counties that are strategically located in areas where the highest populations of students on free and reduced lunch reside (public parks, housing projects, schools, libraries, and church social halls).  Students can walk directly to these sites to receive meals and enjoy a variety of programming.  This service is so much more than just lunch!  Together, we wanted to feed not just the body, but the mind and spirit of every participating child.

The Tiftarea Y only employs five full time staff, so how do we reach over 1,700 children and serve 53,000 meals at 24 sites?  We pray and passionately speak about the needs of our children to churches and organizations throughout our community imploring their assistance.  Our community has rallied around the scripture, 1 John 3:18 which states, “Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.”  The entire community has rallied to this call in an unprecedented unification of service with 105 different churches and organizations joining together to volunteer their time to serve our community youth.

Michael Byrd enjoys his lunch while volunteers from Travelers Rest Church delight in serving the meals behind him.

Volunteers from Journey Church lend a hand at Puckett Park.

Volunteers have noted that Food for Thought has really increased their awareness of the issue of hunger and poverty right here in our community.  A local ophthalmologist noted, “You hear so much about childhood obesity, but as I was serving the lunches I noticed the children were all so thin.  The children ate everything on their plates; they were truly hungry.  I never would have believed that could be happening in our community.”  Brandi Williams, a volunteer site leader from Journey Church noted, “I believe it is so important to give back to our community. When you think of “hunger” you think of some foreign country, you don’t think about it being in your backyard. This program was such an awesome opportunity to reach out and help our brothers and sisters in the community. You are really able to see God’s Love in these children’s eyes. It just makes me thankful we were able to get out and help. We all cannot wait until next year!” 

Wiregrass Farmers Market volunteer sings about why you should eat your veggies.

Watermelon-eating contest

The Tiftarea Y was also able to increase awareness in our children about better nutrition through a partnership with local farmers and farmer markets.  The children were able to enjoy fresh berries and melons that were locally grown.  Pamphlets were provided about the nutritional benefits of this produce and what those nutrients can do for your body.  Farmers also did programs with the children about how the produce is grown and hosted the widely popular watermelon eating contest!

Larry Dean Minnesota Vicking gives a medal to the best team player at Carnival Day.

Everyone gets a book at the Y!

Children were able to see not just role models but “real” models that came from our community, overcame hardships, and became successful.  One such real model was Larry Dean from the Minnesota Vikings who hosted one of the Tiftarea Y’s carnival days. Dean was able to share his story of growing up in the very neighborhood and playing at the park that was hosting the feeding site.  He spoke with the children about having dreams, believing in yourself, overcoming adversity, and persevering to make sure you achieve your goals.

Food for Thought also empowered the children with the tools needed to achieve their dreams.  Through a partnership with the Literacy Volunteers, the Tiftarea Y collected over 2,000 books to freely distribute to the children over the summer.  Each child left the feeding sites with their very own book!  County Commissioner Melissa Cheevers spoke with the children encouraging them to read because knowledge is power.  Many community volunteers (ranging from the city mayor to neighborhood moms) signed up to read with the children over the summer so that all of our children could see a wide variety of real people in our community placing a high value on reading and education.

To see an entire community rally behind our youth is a powerful thing.  Lives were changed this summer.  Children were not just fed, but loved! Adults got out of their comfort zones, saw a need, and actively sought to fulfill it.  The Tiftarea Y feels this is what we are here for, uniting communities through service and Christ’s love.

BLOG TOUR: West Contra Costa Y (Richmond, CA): August 14, 2012

Summer food has never been so fun at the West Contra Costa Y! Lasting impact was made as youth 18 years of age and younger enjoyed free, nutritional lunches and snacks served family style. Bowls of fresh fruit and pitchers of refreshing water at each table enabled us to promote healthy living for all. Families were able to engage in conversation while partaking of fresh produce they hadn’t tried before.

More than food was served, as participants engaged in educational and physical activities immediately following the meal. All community members were invited to attend an hour-long Wellness Program, offered at no cost to participants. This program enabled us to expose the entire community to all that the Y has to offer. A bilingual coordinator engaged families in educational activities designed to help children retain information learned during the school year and minimize summer learning loss. Physical fitness activities proved that being active can be fun and promoted our Y’s initiative to combat childhood obesity by getting children to play for at least one hour every day. 

What could be fresher than growing your own fruits and vegetables? The West Contra Costa Y established a community garden to provide healthy alternative foods, strengthen the sense of community, and facilitate hands-on learning experiences for all. The community garden was built by community members, volunteers and dedicated Y staff. The care of the garden has been a learning experience for both children and seniors in the community, and both the participants and produce has thrived at our Y!

This summer has been truly inspirational to all. Children have been inspired to lead healthier lives, and have taken the messages and lessons learned home. Families are engaging in healthy living activities. Community members young and old are cultivating gardens and relationships.  Thanks to funding from Walmart and guidance provided by Y-USA, we are growing stronger together.

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Northern Utah (Salt Lake City, UT): August 13, 2012: Farm and garden to grocery store, youth learn where food comes from

Friends at the farm, learning more about dairy cows and other
farm animals.

This year the YMCA of Northern Utah, Community Family Center is offering 10 weeks of summer day camp to keep kids active, engaged and healthy all summer long. This week's theme was New-Trition, campers were able to visit a farm, work in their community garden and explore a local grocery store to get a high level understanding of how food is produced and how it ends up on their plate.

Helping to steady the ever growing squash plant at Wasatch Community Gardens.

Scavenger hunt at a local grocery store to locate healthy dinner materials

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Northern Utah (Salt Lake City, UT): August 10, 2012: Ensuring kids have healthy snacks all summer long

 “For some children in our communities, the end of the school year means end of meals,” said Angela Wright, Director, Community Family Center, YMCA of Northern Utah. “At the Y, we are focused on making sure children stay healthy and well-nourished. Thanks to the partnership with Walmart, our Y will be able to continue to provide a healthy fresh snack to children in the community who need them most. The partnership also compliments our daily physical activity commitment and nutrition curriculum.”

Our youth love the family style feel to our daily snack! “If you eat the right foods, healthy foods, you feel stronger, you feel healthier,” said Sai, YMCA youth, age 12, “and you have more self-confidence.”

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH): August 9, 2012

Hanging out at the Y during the summer means more to the youth from Cincinnati food deserts.  Our participation in the Summer Food Program means young people receive fresh fruit, veggies, and other healthy options. 

Our partnership with the INNOVATIONS team of health educators of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center also introduces over 30 delicious vegetables and fruits, providing youth the opportunity to try each one at least three times.  Youth also track their water intake on charts, helping them learn about healthy levels needed to help their bodies run all summer! 

These experiences impact families as students share their new favorites with their parents and caregivers.  We love answering questions from these caring adults…and on occasion introducing them to blood oranges and star fruit, too!  We believe the lessons learned while hanging out at the Y during the summer will last a lifetime for many!

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH): August 8, 2012

Cincinnati youth appreciate the hand that Walmart gives to our Summer Food Program.  The Y partners with the Superintendent Mary Ronan, Cincinnati Mayor Mark L. Malory, and over a dozen community-based organizations and libraries to ensure that youth across the city benefit from nutritious meals, physical activities, and learning opportunities in safe places. 

“When I was young, I relied on the school lunch program for my basic nutrition, and summertime was often a struggle,” says Yvette Simpson, Cincinnati City Council Member. “This program provides healthy food and activities that are vital resources to our most vulnerable children.” 

Beginning with our citywide Summer Field Day kick-off in early June, the Y continues to fill spirits, minds, and bodies with healthy food and activities.

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Rapid City (Rapid City, SD): August 7, 2012

The YMCA of Rapid City had planned on serving a total of 175 kids per day in 2011. We now serve over 400 hungry kids each day from June to August, all miraculously done with a staff of 3 people to prepare, serve, and monitor in a 2,000 square foot cafe with a 400 square foot kitchen.

These totals are not counting the 150 members and 250 preschool children who are also served every day from the same cafe.

"During the summertime, some kids don't receive the nutrition they need through meals, so this is a good opportunity for those kids to come here, get food service, and enjoy a meal and fellowship."

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Central Maryland (Baltimore, MD): August 6, 2012:

While summer should be a time of fun, exploration and relaxation, many children are left without the nutrition they need to learn, grow and thrive. According to the USDA, more the 21 million children lose access to free or reduced-cost meals once the school year ends. To ensure that children in the Baltimore communities of Druid Hill/Upton Heights and Waverly have access to food year-round, the Y of Central Maryland is offering free healthy meals and snacks through our Summer Food Program, thanks to a grant from Walmart.

The Druid Hill Family Center Y is home to the New Horizons II program designed for homeless and displaced teens in Baltimore City. Designed as an 8-week summer program, teens are engaged in workshops on work readiness, financial literacy, money management skills, life skills, service learning and academic enrichment. Participants are placed in 6-week paid internships that provide hands-on experiences that supplement program activities.

The Summer Mobile Lunch program is also provided at the Druid Hill Family Center Y. At 12 noon each weekday, children from the Druid Hill/Upton Heights community of Baltimore are invited to the Y to enjoy a free, healthy lunch.

At this Y Journeys camp at the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Family Center Y, we provide quality summer experiences at an affordable price. Built-in features like free extended camp hours, free breakfast, lunch and dinner, free shuttle service to and from camp, and sibling discounts help make Y Journeys one of the lowest-cost camps in the area.

BLOG TOUR: Volusia Flagler Family YMCA (Ormond Beach, FL): August 3, 2012: Serving at-promise teens

In partnership with local high schools, our YMCA has identified at-risk (or as we like to call them, “at-promise”!) teens to be part of a program called Project 396. Y staff and volunteers meet with these teens during their school lunch hour and provide guidance and mentorship focused on improving their self-esteem, academic achievement and career readiness.

The program has been a huge success—so much so that participants have asked for a Camp 396 that continues over the summer. Many teens in our community are homeless or near-homeless. The summer food program is important in allowing these at-promise teens get the nutrition they need this summer as we help them learn what it takes to be successful adults.

With little to no parental guidance, this group truly needs mentors and adults who care. Through partnerships and the summer food program, they have the resources to make the most of this summer!

BLOG TOUR: Volusia Flagler Family YMCA (Ormond Beach, FL): August 2, 2012: Running and reading!

In July, our summer day camp participants completed a half-marathon, and for every milestone they achieve, they received a book to keep! Books were selected based on each child’s reading level, and participants took part in a book club each day to read and discuss their current books.

Whether or not they were enrolled in a Y program, all summer food program participants were invited to join, by tracking their running progress and reporting back to receive a book of their very own!

Our Kids Marathon was a huge hit during our afterschool enrichment program, and we were thrilled to see how much our summer camp kids enjoyed running, too—along with their free books and their book clubs!

BLOG TOUR: Volusia Flagler Family YMCA (Ormond Beach, FL): August 1, 2012: Food for all

If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger. —Buzz Aldrin

Through a partnership, our YMCA is feeding preschoolers at a local church that was unable to implement the summer food program this year! We serve them breakfast and lunch every weekday.

When the cart of food rolls down the hall, the kids get so excited. They show their gratitude by saying “thank you” about a million times a day, and they really love the food.

Even though they’re not part of a Y program, they understand through the food program that the community cares about them and won’t let them go hungry! This is what the summer food program is about!

July 2012

BLOG TOUR: Volusia Flagler Family YMCA (Ormond Beach, FL): July 31, 2012: All about balance!

Health is a multi-faceted thing: it is both a lack of hunger and a lack of obesity. It is a balance—as so many things are!

At the Volusia Flagler Family YMCA, our goal is not to just feed children through the summer food program but to help them find balance and health.

Our main tools for conquering hunger and helping children find balance includes the Food & Fun curriculum and the SPARK program, which are put in place through our summer day camp.

Through Food & Fun, kids are encouraged to conduct taste tests and determine what category foods fall into: “always,” “sometimes” and “very sometimes” (categories made up by our kids!). They rate each program meal using these categories. While there’s much more to the program, this “rating system” is popular and well-understood by our kids.

We also help kids stay active through SPARK. We may be the YMCA that Vince Carter grew up playing basketball at, but we understand that every child, no matter his athletic ability, can be active!

Schools around here are cutting physical education and extracurricular activities, but through the summer food program, we are teaching kids to eat those “always” foods all the time and to have fun being active!

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Delaware (Wilmington, DE): July 26, 2012

It is hard for kids to connect to their food and understand where it comes from. At the Walnut Street YMCA in Wilmington, DE, we help our summer campers make that connection by providing free nutritious meals through the Summer Food Service Program and hands-on experience growing produce in the garden. Last summer we seized the opportunity when two raised beds became available at the community garden two blocks from our urban Y. This summer, we planted our beds at the community garden and expanded to a new site.

At the garden, campers get their hands dirty and engage in healthy habits guided by our curriculum focusing on nutrition, exercise, literacy, science, math, social skills and environmental education. When harvesting, we offer produce and accompanying recipes for our campers' families in a mini-market. It is amazing how many campers love to eat the raw spinach, zucchini and asparagus they pick right out of the garden!

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Houston (Houston, TX): July 20, 2012: “Establishing healthy personal wellness habits for their future”

The USDA Summer Food Service Program has partnered with the YMCA of Greater Houston through the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department for over 10 years to provide thousands of children and youth throughout the city with meals during the summer months. The Alief Family YMCA is one of over 20 locations that the YMCA partners with the USDA Summer Food Program in Houston.

The lunch program at the Alief Family is provided to day campers as well as community members in need of a nutritious meal. There are fun activities in the Y for community members to participate in as well as enjoying the meals provided by the program.

This year the additional funding provided through Walmart allowed the Alief Family YMCA to start offering breakfast as well.

"This is a great resource for our community. The ability to work with partners to support the needs of the youth and families in Alief is tremendous," says Kevin Kebede, Alief Y Executive Director. "This program serves close to 200 kids daily and is a critical effort as many of them count on us to provide them with what may be their only meals for the day. Breakfast, lunch, hydration and physical activity have been priorities this summer at the Alief Y and they all play a huge role in our campers establishing healthy personal wellness habits for their future".

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, MI): July 18, 2012: Realizing the Dream

Our Kitchen is now fully functional.  Meals are being transported to several locations across the city, which is a win both for our city’s children and for our Y, which will be reimbursed through the Summer Food Service Program and, starting in the fall, through the Child and Adult Care Food Program. 

Above, children throughout our community enjoy made-to-order chicken fajitas with a cold glass of milk, lovingly prepared in our new kitchen. By offering nutritious meals and snacks to our community’s most vulnerable youth, we are living our mission to build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, MI): July 16, 2012: Building the Dream

Construction is underway on our commercial kitchen, which will provide nutritious snacks and meals to hundreds of kids this summer.   Hard decisions have been made, starting from where to locate the kitchen, to what equipment we need, to the logistics of serving multiple locations, to adhering to a lot of rules (including HACCP standards , our Y's Association-wide Nutrition Policy and Y-USA's HEPA standards). Our Chef has been hired, and we are in full transition to becoming a SFSP Site Sponsor, a venture that will allow us to prepare meals for sites throughout Grand Rapids starting in late June!

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, MI): July 16, 2012: Envisioning the Dream

Today, one in four children in West Michigan faces hunger every single day. For years, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids dreamed of preparing fresh, nutritious meals to serve to the kids in our summer and after school programs, but lacked the needed kitchen.

Thanks to the Walmart, our dream is becoming a reality.  In May 2012, we began construction on a commercial-grade kitchen that will serve hundreds of vulnerable children healthy meals this summer and beyond.  Please read upcoming blog posts that document our progress.

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Springfield (Springfield, MA): July 15, 2012: Farm to Preschool

The YMCA of Greater Springfield has been involved in the Farm to Preschool program for 3 ½ years.  Farm to Preschool is a cooperative buying program where area child care centers purchase locally grown produce.   The program has been a big success from the beginning; offering our children the opportunity to eat fresh foods with no added preservatives, salts or sugars.

Of course, we at the Y are concerned about our children’s health and lifestyle and strive to bring the best food possible to their plate. Our children consumed over 12,000 pounds of farm fresh fruits and produce in our first full year in 2010. All of the produce is grown locally which helps the community and our farmers. The list of produce includes apples, green beans, potatoes, broccoli, spinach, and squash to name a few.

Our goal is to serve even more in the years to come. We're always looking to increase the participation of other daycares in this program as we know the benefits of healthy eating habits now and as the children grow.”

Allen Gouvin
Food Service Director
YMCA of Greater Springfield

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Springfield (Springfield, MA): July 13, 2012: Mobile Farmer's Market

Our urban communities struggle to access healthy food. There are limited grocery stores in the downtown area. Families need to travel many miles to a full size grocery store.

As well, our families have developed unhealthy food habits. Cultural meals are high in calories and fat, and fast food is a norm for family dinners. Fruits and vegetables are a limited menu item.

In 2011, the Farm to Preschool program added a mobile market that brings seasonal produce at a discounted rate to the YMCA of Greater Springfield via a converted school bus. 300 childcare participants and their families can shop weekly in the YMCA parking lot. Y staff, 104 residents, and neighbors conveniently shop each week there as well. In the winter, the farmers will deliver boxes of pre-ordered produce once/week to families.

"The Mobile Farmers Market is a great idea. It is convenient for families of the YMCA to buy fresh fruits and vegetables," says one parent. "My son and I look forward to shop at the mobile market on Wednesday evenings. It would be awesome if this program could remain at the YMCA for many years."

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Greater Springfield (Springfield, MA): July 12, 2012: 520 meals each day to help campers stay well-nourished

To ensure that children in the greater Springfield region have access to food year-round, the YMCA of Greater Springfield is offering free healthy meals and snacks through its summer food program, thanks to a grant funded by Walmart.

The Y has partnered with Walmart to address child hunger in communities, with a focus on increasing participation in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides free meals to children aged 18 and under while school is out. According to the Food Research and Action Center, only in one in seven children who depend on free or reduced-cost meals during the school year received meals though the SFSP last summer. This summer, more than 300 Ys nationwide will offer summer food programs with a collective goal to serve 5 million healthy meals and snacks to 100,000 children. Here in the greater Springfield area, the Y plans to serve 520 meals and/or snacks each day to help campers stay well-nourished.

“For some children in our communities, the end of the school year means end of meals,” said Kirk Smith, President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Springfield. “At the Y, we are focused on making sure children stay healthy and well-nourished. Thanks to the partnership with Walmart, our Y will be able to provide meals to children in the community who need them most.”

“At Walmart, we recognize the need to support the development of our nation’s youth,” said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of Walmart. “We know that providing access to healthy meals during the summer months will enable students to return to school healthy, prepared and ready to succeed. By working closely with the Y we can help kids have better summers and, ultimately, better lives.”

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas (Dallas, TX): July 9, 2012

This is Semarion.

Semarion loves the Summer Food Program! He always asks for seconds and eats every bite. His Mom is grateful for the food service program because it helps them both out.

They are having a blast at summer camp! This is Semarion enjoying the chicken sandwich from today.

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas (Dallas, TX): July 8, 2012

This is Brecken Moore, age 8.  This is his second year at the White Rock Y Summer Camp. 

This year has already been special for him, simply because of the new food plan we adopted through CitySquare. 

The minute I gave his mother our snack and lunch menu for the summer, her eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. She couldn't believe how healthy we were feeding the campers this year. And she knows for a fact that when she sends Brecken to camp, he's getting all of the nutrients that he needs to ensure that he has a healthy and productive day!

BLOG TOUR: Edward L. Gaylord Downtown YMCA (Oklahoma City, OK): July 5, 2012: "On any given day, more than 36,000 children have no idea how or where they will find their next meal."

Hunger does not take a summer vacation.

Hunger does not care what color you are, what religion you are, where you were born, or whom you know.

Hunger does not concern itself with the fact that your family is struggling. Hunger does not care that you are a child that has absolutely no control over what happens in your life.

Hunger is vicious, cruel, and relentless. Hunger hurts. As bad as these characteristics are, hunger has one that is far worse and sadder than any other.

Hunger is preventable.

There are 145,000 children living in Oklahoma City. On any given day, more than 36,000 children have no idea how or where they will find their next meal. While most of the other 109,000 children look forward to each glorious day of summer vacation, these 36,000 and their parents pray for school to begin again because they know they will get something to eat there.
The YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City became a Pioneering Healthier Communities (PHC) Y in 2009. As such, we made a commitment to serve anyone that needs our help to live a happier, healthier life. In that time, we have implemented LIVESTRONG at the Y. We have partnered with local school districts and health organizations to improve the quality of foods and physical activities offered to students. We have worked with city leaders to increase the number of walking trails through the communities we serve.

Yet, as wonderful as these accomplishments are, perhaps no other service we have provided is more important as our summer feeding program. In just a few weeks, six Y branches have served more than 2,500 meals. Close to half of those have been served through the Edward L Gaylord Downtown YMCA in the heart of Oklahoma City.

On a recent hot June afternoon, the courtyard between the branch and the adjacent Child Development Center was filled with children of all ages lining up to receive their sack lunch. Almost instantly, an impromptu picnic filled this green space in the middle of the concrete jungle. They spread out to rest under trees, on the sidewalk under a large portico, on the cool fescue grass, and anywhere where space was available to eat. Friends were made, smiles were shared, and tummies were filled. Summer camp counselors looked on, understanding that what was happening here went far beyond feeding hungry kids. This was an investment in our future. Summer learning loss is amplified by hunger. But this summer, that wouldn't be a problem. Parents expressed how appreciative they were for the food and that this was one less meal they would have to buy.

If not for the Walmart and our partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, this scene, and many others like it, would not be possible. The YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City is proud to play this small, yet vital role in the lives of our children. Hunger doesn't take a summer vacation, and neither does the Y.

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas, NV): July 3, 2012: "Be nutritionally sound."

As featured on 8 News Now, this past year about 170,000 Clark County students received free and reduced meals at school. That number was up by more than 20,000 from the previous school year.

The YMCA of Southern Nevada is dedicated to ensuring these students are given access to healthy meals during the summer months via the Summer Food Program in conjunction with the Three Square food bank. Says Patty Salas, head counselor at Bridger Middle School, "This is one less thing I want their parents to worry about."

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas, NV): July 2, 2012

With three YMCA of Southern Nevada locations participating, FOX5 Vegas profiled the Y's summer food program.

"No registration needed, no questions asked. Just come in and be nutritionally sound," says Tara Maras, marketing director, when describing the YMCA Summer Food Program to FOX5 News This Morning. "It's just a welcoming, warm environment, and they leave with their bellies full."

June 2012

BLOG TOUR: HOT SPRINGS YMCA (Hot Springs, AR): June 26, 2012: "When our children are well, our community is well."

Nationwide 50 million Americans suffer from food insecurity; more than half a million people in Arkansas are hungry. Further, Arkansas has the nation’s highest percentage of childhood hunger with 166,000 (24%) children under the age of 18 finding themselves food insecure. Food insecurity is defined as “not knowing where ones next meal might be coming from”. Food insecurity is built on three pillars:

Availability:     Having enough
Access:           Having resources to obtain food and
                      nutrition
Food Use:       Understanding food and nutrition and how it partners with the human body for health and wellbeing.

Paradoxically, Arkansas also deals with being ranked as one of the nation’s most obese states.  According to F as in Fat: “15 years ago Arkansas had an obesity rate of 17% and was ranked the 5th most obese state in the nation. 15 years later, the obesity rate in Arkansas has increased 80%!”

The Hot Springs Family YMCA has been involved, since 2008, in Pioneering Healthier Communities (PHC) work.  Embarking on this path has been a journey full of learning, not just for Y staff, but for our entire community at large.  Pioneering Healthier Communities is work that engages the heart and commitment in the area of food access, increased physical activity, community design and ensuring firm policy is in place for all in the community to find success in the healthy choice becoming the easy choice.

So what to do? Through PHC efforts and becoming involved in educational programming the need became apparent pointing to inequities in the areas of food access, community design and opportunities for educational attainment amongst our most under resourced in the state. The Hot Springs Family Y began to explore pathways to become more involved in out of school education programs, summer learning loss gap closure and access to nutrition programs.  In 2011 we began our summer feeding program. We know hungry children are not thriving children and we know that when our children are not well, our community is not well.

Through the USDA summer feeding program, and through additional grant monies from Wal-Mart, the United Way and other community funders the Y in Hot Springs served 3,835 lunches during the summer of 2011and 12,280 snacks. So far in the three weeks of summer 2012 it looks like these number will more than double along with a newly added breakfast feeding program.  All food served meets USDA nutritional guidelines, plus is supplemented with additional fruits and vegetables. 

Looking to further increase impact, all the Y’s in Arkansas have agreed to a state measure of implementing Y5210 into summer out of school programs.  Y5210 is an interactive, comprehensive curriculum reminding kids and families of the importance of 5 fruits and vegetable, 2 hours or less of screen time, 1 hour of physical activity and 0 sugar sweetened drinks each day!

A Chinese Poem cited in John Perkin’s book “Restoring At-Risk Communities” states:

Go to the people
Live among them
Learn from them
Love them
Start with what they know
Build on what they have
But of the best leaders
When their task is done
The people will remark,
“WE HAVE DONE IT OURSELVES”

The Y in Hot Springs is learning to “go to the people”.  Not always with answers, not always with “might”, but certainly with a heart longing to serve, hands willing to make a difference and ideas that stem from a community we hold dear… our own.

BLOG TOUR: YMCA of the USA: June 20, 2012

Our annual summer food program is well under way, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Walmart to distribute five million meals to 100,000 kids from coast to coast. Child nutrition is a big deal to us here at the Y, and we are proud of our efforts to fuel kids during the summer months when access to a school meal program is limited.

Back by popular demand, join us on our blog tour this summer, as Y locations check in to give you an exclusive insider look into the program.