Background

As a Research Project Manager at Philabundance, a nonprofit food bank in Philadelphia, PA, I had the privilege of leading the evaluation of the Lunchbox Program. This initiative aimed to provide nutritious meals to underserved youth during the summer months, filling the gap when school meal programs were on unavailable.

approach

• Mixed-Methods Evaluation: To ensure a comprehensive assessment of the program’s impact, I utilized a mixed-methods approach. This combined quantitative methods, such as pre-post surveys with parents, to track measurable changes in food security and nutritional habits, and qualitative methods, like interviews, to capture personal experiences and insights.

• Community-Based Participatory Research: Engaging the community was integral to the evaluation process. Parents and community members were actively involved, ensuring the evaluation metrics and tools reflected their perspectives and needs. This participatory approach enriched the assessment and empowered the community as active stakeholders in the program’s success.

• Development of Evaluation Metrics and Tools: We crafted tailored evaluation metrics and tools that aligned with both the program’s objectives and the community’s needs. The pre-post surveys measured key indicators such as changes in food security status and nutritional intake, while the interview guide explored the contextual factors influencing these outcomes.

• Data Collection and Analysis: Data was collected through pre-post surveys at the beginning and end of the summer program, and interviews were conducted midway to gather ongoing feedback. The data was rigorously analyzed to identify trends and areas for improvement, providing a comprehensive understanding of the program’s effectiveness from multiple angles.

• Stakeholder Interviews: We conducted interviews with key stakeholders, including program administrators, volunteers, and community leaders, to gather their perspectives on the program’s implementation and impact. These insights were crucial in identifying operational strengths and challenges, informing our recommendations for program enhancements.

• Redesign Recommendations: Based on the evaluation findings, we developed actionable recommendations to enhance the Lunchbox Program. These included improvements in meal distribution logistics, increased community engagement, and enhancements to the nutritional education components. The recommendations were practical and feasible, ensuring they could be readily implemented to improve program outcomes.

DELIVERABLE

The final deliverable was a detailed report that included:

• An executive summary of the program’s impact.

• Detailed findings from the pre-post surveys and interviews.

• Insights from stakeholder interviews.

• Tailored recommendations for program improvements.

• Suggestions for ongoing evaluation and monitoring to sustain and enhance program effectiveness.

By aligning the evaluation of the Lunchbox Program with the principles of community-based participatory research and a mixed-methods approach, we provided a thorough, inclusive, and actionable assessment.