I recently went on a site visit to Weymouth, where I checked out Weston Park, our newest Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) site. When I first arrived at the park I was impressed by the great location and the accommodations it had to offer. As I entered the park I noticed that the SFSP was nowhere to be found, no signs or anything. As I searched around I found the volunteers inside the Tufts Library basement - two high school students fulfilling their National Honor Society community service requirement, awesome kids. Even though the site was run by two charismatic volunteers, I knew something had to change. The first thing would be to put up SFSP signs and flyers in and around the vicinity. If people don’t know the program is there, how are they supposed to utilize it? I noticed that there were children and parents at the park who were not eating lunches. I talked to the volunteers about this and they said that they tried handing out flyers but the parents would not take them. Instead of forcing the program onto families, a passive yet proactive approach would have the most impact. Hanging up flyers and giving some to the library would be a worthwhile place to start. I also think that hosting an event to draw a crowd would help increase participation. Something like a police department K-9 show for the kids and families sponsored by the SFSP.
As we near the end of the SFSP, it would be great to go out with a bang and spark some real community involvement. What’s better than bringing people together for a great cause? You tell me.
-Spencer Hardy
As we near the end of the SFSP, it would be great to go out with a bang and spark some real community involvement. What’s better than bringing people together for a great cause? You tell me.
-Spencer Hardy