Progress 07/01/17 to 06/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The mission of the Atlanta Community Food Bank is to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering our community. Founded in 1979 in the basement of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Atlanta as a homeless ministry and one of the first food banks in the country, a total of 15,279 pounds of donated food was distributed to 25 partner agencies serving the hungry and food insecure in our community. In the 41 years since that time, we have gone on to serve as a beacon of hope for millions of low-income, food insecure Georgians living across 29 metropolitan Atlanta and North Georgia counties. Last year alone, we worked with more than 700 nonprofit partner agencies to distribute the food and critical resources need for 67 million meals. While not directly related to our work funded by FINI and NIFA, we have distributed the food equal to 191 million meals over the same three years of this grant. Fighting hunger is much more than just providing food to people in need. To truly remove it from our community, we must also focus on reducing poverty, stabilizing households and improving the health and wellbeing of those we serve. We accomplish these goals in many ways but one of the primary efforts we focus on is increasing access to fresh and nutritious produce. This project worked to do just that through efforts to increase access to fresh produce for low-income, food insecure individuals and families, primarily by partnering with local markets and retail stores and through innovative efforts to provide fresh produce directly into the communities that need it most. Our efforts under this project were primarily centered on local farmers markets and retail stores located in communities where at least 50% of the population is considered living at or below the federal poverty line and where 80% of the local children qualify for free or reduced-price meals at schools. These areas primarily included the following areas: Westside, a collection of over 10 neighborhoods, is often described solely by its blight, high crime, and drug activity, but it is also rich in historic neighborhoods, green spaces, burgeoning urban farms, Historic Black Colleges and Universities, and artists - all assets upon which to build. Old Fourth Ward is a neighborhood on the east side of Atlanta, Georgia. The neighborhood is best known as the location of the Martin Luther King, Jr. historic site. Wrestling with the complications of gentrification, Old Fourth Ward is still home to the City of Atlanta's most impoverished citizens along its Boulevard corridor. South Atlanta, a collection of over 15 inner-city neighborhoods, has been plagued by blight and high crime but is also atarget for revitalization with its rich history and beautiful turn of the century homes. South Atlanta will soon be connected to Westside Atlanta and Old Fourth Ward as the Atlanta BeltLine project develops. The Atlanta BeltLine is a sustainable redevelopment project that will provide a network of public parks, urban farms, multi-use trails and transit along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor circling downtown Atlanta and connecting many neighborhoods directly to each other. By race/ethnicity, the target population accessing support in these areas are grouped as follows: 85% identify as African American, 6% Caucasian, 6% Asian, 2% Hispanic, and 1% as another race or ethnicity. For the Food Bank's client population overall, 61% identify as African American, 24% Caucasian, 10% Hispanic/Latinx, 3% Asian and 2% as another race or ethnicity. Further, the intersection of race and poverty is important as well as both directly impact the disproportionately high rates of food insecurity discussed above. By income, 14% of client households have no annual income, 54% have annual incomes between $1 and $10,000, 22% have annual incomes between $10,001 and $20,000 and 6% have annual incomes between $20,001 and $30,000. Changes/Problems:Year 1: The project was delayed due to late budget approval and low enrollment by partner stores and farmers markets. Year 2: While the second year of this project was successful in making progress toward expanding SNAP 2 for 1 opportunity, there continued to be challenges in getting new farmers markets and retail stores to participate in the program - resulting in lower than expected results. Further, as previously described, a one-time, no cost extension was requested and approved. Due to the late approval and release of funding for the majority of our participating retail partners in Year 1 and lower than anticipated usage of the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive in Year 2, we were not able to adequately expend the entire 2 for 1 incentive funding. This was further compounded by most of the participating stores and markets transitioning to another local organization that had a FINI-funded SNAP incentive reimbursement program. Year 3: The Grady Memorial Hospital Food as Medicine was to be a central point in our project during Year 3, especially as it would have allowed us to continue the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive program in the onsite market. However, numerous unexpected construction problems occurred which caused a significant delay in the center's opening. This resulted in the inability to offer the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As throughout the entire reporting period, the Food Bank provided numerous training and professional development opportunities. Specifically, the Georgia Food Oasis Program conducted numerous speaking engagements throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area including with the Westside Future Fund, hosted numerous cooking demonstrations using fresh produce, participated in community fresh produce engagement and awareness events with Aluma Farms Activities and provided regular training to our participating retail stores and farmers markets on data collection, management and reporting. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outcomes, results, accomplishments and activities have been regularly communicated to communities of interest and to the wider public through speaking engagements, emails, training events, electronic and traditional media platforms and cooking demonstrations. Specifically, the Food as Medicine program at Grady Memorial Hospital has recently received significant recognition throughout varying traditional media platforms due to its high visibility and planned impact on the low-income, food insecure people we serve who also have chronic health issues. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
General Impact: We are incredibly appreciative of the support provided by NIFA and FINI that assisted us in increasing access to fresh produce for low-income, food insecure individuals and families living throughout metropolitan. Focusing on fresh produce so has been a central component of our hunger relief efforts over the last few years and will remain so going forward. Specific Project Narrative: A: Maintain and increase number of access points for fresh, healthy food via traditional farmers markets, produce stands and retail locations in low-access neighborhoods. Year 1: No activities were conducted in the first quarter due to a delay in program launch. 2nd Quarter: One participating marketin the Fresh Pass SNAP Incentive Program. 3rd Quarter: Participating locations increased from 1 in the previous quarter to 2 participating locations in the third quarter. The original participating partner was a small corner store while the new participant was a farmers market. 4th Quarter: Participating locations increased from 2 in the previous quarter to a total of 11 participating locations includingthe original corner store and farmers market. The new program participants included a large grocery store/supermarket and eight additional farmers markets (four of which were located at mass transit locations). Year 2: In Year 1 of this project, we grew the number local markets and retail stores participating in the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive program from one in the first quarter to a total of 11 in the fourth quarter. The participating locations included one neighborhood-based small/corner store, one large retail store and nine farmers markets including numerous markets that operated at transit locations throughout the metropolitan Atlanta area. An additional farmers market located at an Atlanta transit station joined in Year 2. Year 3: As discussed in our previous report and in our Change of Scope approved in 2018, no retail stores participated during Year 3. It was planned that a new location at the Grady Memorial Hospital would join the program instead. However, due to unexpected construction delays and COVID-19, this was not possible. B: Increase overall produce category sales and redemption of 2 for 1 SNAP incentives for fresh produce by at least 10%. By the end of Year 1 of the project, the Food Bank's Georgia Food Oasis - Fresh Pass Program had helped to enable a total of $18,378 in SNAP 2 for 1 in incentives at 11 participating locations and their low-income, often food insecure customers. A total of $9,268 in incentives were redeemed at participating farmers markets, $7,681 was redeemed at a small store and $1,429 was redeemed at a large retail grocery store. Over the course of Year 2, an additional $90,424 in incentives were in enabled and redeemed. A total of $44,061 in incentives were redeemed through the nine participating farmers markets, $17,675 was redeemed through the small store location and $28,688 was redeemed at the large participating grocery store. When compared, total redemption of 2 or 1 SNAP incentives for fresh produce increased by more than 390% between Year 1 and Year 2. Year 3: The Food Bank under a significant reorganization at the start of the reporting period which resulted in significant changes to the Georgia Food Oasis Program. Additionally, due to most of our partners transitioning to another FINI grantee in our area, we applied for and received as a one-time, no cost extension and project change from FINI to extend this project by executing a partnership with Open Hand Atlanta. This allowed us to extend our progress towards ensuring that low-income, food insecure people in Atlanta had increased access to low priced fresh produce. This was enabled through subsidized produce boxes that were purchased by low-income, food insecure individual and families. The prices of 2,000 boxes of mixed produce were subsidized and were distributed across 100 location in metropolitan Atlanta. Further, recognizing that transportation is a significant impediment to accessing fresh produce due to living in food deserts, the cost of delivery for 10,000 units of mixed produce was subsidized as well through the one-time, no cost extension. Further, it was planned to offer the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive at the Food as Medicine center located at Grady Memorial Hospital. However, this was not possible due to significant construction delays which delayed the opening of the center. C: Provide additional incentives to increase awareness and outreach about SNAP incentive programs to drive customers to fresh produce access points. Nothing to report due to the reorganization of the Food Bank's programs that occurred during July 2019. D: Improve the nutrition and health status of participating households. This project directly impacted the nutrition and health status of participating households by increasing their access to fresh produce through both the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive portion and through the provision of heavily discounted produce boxes. We know that the first decision many low-income, food insecure families make when buying food is selecting cheaper, less nutritious items instead of more expensive items with higher nutritional values such as fresh produce, meats and dairy items. This project helped families to not make this decision, ensuring that the produce they received allowed them to focus on quality items with higher nutritional values. Additionally, many of the families we support have a member in their household with a chronic health condition that can be directly impacted by food (Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease). By increasing access to healthy produce, these individuals are better able to manage their conditions with the overall goal of improving their quality of life and health status.
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Progress 07/01/18 to 06/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Founded in 1979, the mission of the Atlanta Community Food Bank is to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering our community. This is primarily carried out everyday through the distribution of emergency food support to low-income, food insecure individuals and families living across 29 metropolitan Atlanta and North Georgia counties. During the reporting period, the Food Bank worked with 650 nonprofit partner agencies to distribute enough food to enable 61.6 million meals for those in need. However, our efforts do not end at the distribution of emergency food support. They also include other programs and initiatives that engage, educate and empower both people in need and those in our community who want to help. One such example is is the Food Bank's Georgia Food Oasis - Fresh Pass Program which provides SNAP incentives on fresh fruits and vegetables at local markets and retail locations. This program is supported by FINI SNAP funding. In addition to the local markets and retail stores we partner with to provide 2 for 1 SNAP incentives, the ultimate target audience of this program are individuals and families living in areas considered food deserts. Further focus is also placed on areas where at least 50% of the population lives at or below the federal poverty line, and where at least 80% of the local children participate in federal free and reduced price meal programs at school. As to the demographics of those living in pirmary areas covered bythe Georgia Food Oasis - Fresh Pass Program, 85% area African American, 6% Caucasian, 6% Asian, 2% Hispanic, and 1% as another race or ethnicity. This breakdown compares to the Food Bank's overall client group where 61% identify as African American, 24% Caucasian, 10% Hispanic, 3% Asian and 2% as another race or ethnicity Keeping the above in mind, the below are specific areas were the Georgia Food Oasis - Fresh Pass Program primarily operates: Westside, a collection of over 10 neighborhoods, is often described solely by its blight, high crime, and drug activity, but it is also rich in historic neighborhoods, green spaces, burgeoning urban farms, Historic Black Colleges and Universities, and artists - all assets upon which to build. Old Fourth Ward is a neighborhood on the east side of Atlanta, Georgia. The neighborhood is best known as the location of the Martin Luther King, Jr. historic site. Wrestling with the complications of gentrification, Old Fourth Ward is still home to the City of Atlanta's most impoverished citizens along its Boulevard corridor. South Atlanta, a collection of over 15 inner-city neighborhoods, has been plagued by blight and high crime but is also atarget for revitalization with its rich history and beautiful turn of the century homes. South Atlanta will soon be connected to Westside Atlanta and Old Fourth Ward as the Atlanta BeltLine project develops. The Atlanta BeltLine is a sustainable redevelopment project that will provide a network of public parks, urban farms, multi-use trails and transit along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor circling downtown Atlanta and connecting many neighborhoods directly to each other. Too many people in our community live in food insecure circumstances. These individuals and families are impacted in many ways. However, the most common trait shared between them is the fact that they live in poverty and are forced into making tough decisions to get the food they need - often starting with swapping healthier foods for those that cost less but have little to no nutritional value. By partnering with markets and retail stores in the areas where these individuals and families live, the Georgia Food Oasis - Fresh Pass Program helps to reduce this one choice by providing these families the opportunity to double the amount of fresh produce they can receive through their SNAP benefits. Changes/Problems:While the second year of this project was successful in making progress toward expanding SNAP 2 for 1 opportunity there continues to be challenges in getting new market and retail stores to participate in the program. Further, as previously described, a one-time no cost extension has been requested and approved. Due to the late approval and release of funding for the majority of our participating retail partners in Year 1 and lower than anticipated usage of the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive in Yeas 1r 2, we have been unable to fully expend the entire 2 for 1 incentive funding. With most of our participating markets leaving our FINI SNAP incentive reimbursement program on June 30 to transition to another local organization that also has a FINI-funded SNAP incentive reimbursement program, we do not want to see the progress we have made go away. Our hope is that our new partnership with Open Hand Atlanta will allow us to continue this progress and provide the low-income, food insecure individuals we serve with increased access to fresh produce. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Continuing from the previous reporting period, the Food Bank's Georgia Food Oasis Program maintained its efforts to provide training and professional development opportunities under this project. Training and professional development activities were performed through healthy cooking demonstrations with local chefs, working with participating markets and retail stores to refine their competencies to collect and submit program data and through numerous speaking engagements by Food Bank staff to increase awareness of the program within the targeted communities and populations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results, outcomes, impacts and related activities continued to be communicated to communities of interest through speaking engagements, training workshops held with partners and community organizations, and speaking engagements. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The Food Bank is undergoing a significant reorganization at the start of the next reporting period that will result in changes to the Georgia Food Oasis - Fresh Pass Program. A one-time, no cost extension has been applied for and granted to allow the Food Bank to continue our efforts of providing the people we serve with increased access to fresh and nutritious produce. This will be carried out through a partnership with Open Hand Atlanta, an organization that focuses on reducing the burden low-income people encounter when obtaining fresh produce. Our work with Open Hand will include continuation of the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive efforts, providing subsidized costs for produce to be delivered to SNAP eligible individuals, the development of an online ordering system (if possible), reduced by-in fees for low-income individuals participating in a CSA produce program, operation of the Food as Medicine project and food pharmacy located at Grady Memorial Hospital. It is envisioned that each of these activities will continue to extend the strong progress of the Food Bank's SNAP 2 or 1 incentive program.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
General Impact By working with local markets and retail stores primarily in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, the Atlanta Community Food Bank's Georgia Food Oasis Program continued to make progress towards providing low-income, food insecure individuals and families with increased access to fresh produce through our SNAP 2 for 1 incentive initiative. In addition, we continued to strengthen our focus on community outreach and education by hosting regular cooking demonstrations and nutrition education classes, partnering with non-traditional partners such as a local urban farm and increasing awareness of SNAP eligibility and enrollment. Specific Project Narrative A: Maintain and increase number of access points for fresh, healthy food via traditional farmers markets, produce stands and retail locations in low-access neighborhoods. Year 1: No activities were conducted in the first quarter due to a delay in program launch. 2nd Quarter: One participating marketin the Fresh Pass SNAP Incentive Program. This market was initially only open a few days per week but increased to 7 days per week after the incentive program launch. 3rd Quarter: Participating locations increased from 1 in the previous quarter to 2 participating locations in the third quarter. The original participating partner was a small corner store while the new participant is farmers market. 4th Quarter: Participating locations increased from 2 in the previous quarter to a total of 11 participating locations includingthe original corner store and farmers market. The new program participants included a large grocery store/supermarket and eight additional farmers markets (four of which were located at mass transit locations). The activities for each of the program participants are listed below. Information for the 8 new farmers markets has been collated as they are managed by one single entity. Year 2: Each of the above participants continued the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive. One additional farmers market was added. This market was also based at a transit stop on the westside of Atlanta. B: Increase overall produce category sales and redemption of 2 for 1 SNAP incentives for fresh produce by at least 10%. By the end of Year 1 of the project, the Food Bank's Georgia Food Oasis - Fresh Pass Program helped to enable a total of $18,378 in SNAP 2 for 1 in incentives at 12 participating locations and their low-income, often food insecure customers. A total of $9,268 in incentives were redeemed at participating farmers markets, $7,681 was redeemed at a small store and $1,429 was redeemed at a large retail grocery store. Over the course of Year 2, an additional $90,424 in incentives were in enabled and redeemed. A total of $44,061 in incentives were redeemed through the nine participating farmers markets, $17,675 was redeemed through the small store location and $28,688 was redeemed at the large participating grocery store. When compared, total redemption of 2 or 1 SNAP incentives for fresh produce increased by more than 390% between Year 1 and Year 2. C: Provide additional incentives to increase awareness and outreach about SNAP incentive programs to drive customers to fresh produce access points. As in Year 1, the Food Bank continued to increase awareness of the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive initiative by hosting or participating in numerous awareness and education events at the individual locations and in the wider community. Additionally, the Food Bank conducted speaking events highlighting the issue of SNAP and the importance of access to fresh produce across our 29-county service area, with a specific focus on the westside of Atlanta. D: Improve the nutrition and health status of participating households. Significant progress was made towards this goal during the reporting period as more individuals and households became aware of and used the SNAP 2 for 1 incentive. By obtaining double the amount of produce when SNAP incentives were redeemed, customers were able to incorporate these items into their diets - directly impacting their overall nutrition and reducing their reliance on lower priced, poorer foods that they were previously procuring. Additionally, the Food Bank continued to work with outside partners (including an urban farm) to hold nutrition education and awareness events in the communities we serve.
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Progress 07/01/17 to 06/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The Atlanta Community Food Bank works under the mission of fighting hunger by engaging, educating and empowering our community. This is primarily accomplishedthrough the distribution of food to hungry men, women and children throughout 29 counties in metropolitan Atlanta and north Georgia. However, in addition to our core work of providing nutritional products to the food insecure living in our area, the Food Bank also manages programs that attack food insecurity and hunger on different levels. One such example isthe Georgia Food Oasis Atlanta-Fresh Pass Program that provides SNAP incentives on fresh fruits and vegetables at markets and retail locations. This project/program is supported by FINI SNAP funding. The target population of the Georgia Food Oasis Atlanta-Fresh Pass Program has been (and continues to be)individuals and familiesliving in areas where more than 50% pf the population lives below the poverty line withmedian annual incomes of $19,000, and where participation rates in free and reduced meal programs are at least 80%. With this in mind, the populations of the following areas of Atlanta are specific areas of focus in our project. Westside, a collection of over 10 neighborhoods, is often described solely by its blight, high crime, and drug activity, but it is also rich in historic neighborhoods, green spaces, burgeoning urban farms, Historic Black Colleges and Universities, and artists - all assets upon which to build. Old Fourth Ward is a neighborhood on the east side of Atlanta, Georgia. The neighborhood is best known as the location of the Martin Luther King, Jr. historic site. Wrestling with the complications of gentrification, Old Fourth Ward is still home to the City of Atlanta's most impoverished citizens along its Boulevard corridor. South Atlanta, a collection of over 15 inner-city neighborhoods, has been plagued by blight and high crime but is also atarget for revitalization with its rich history and beautiful turn of the century homes. South Atlanta will soon be connected to Westside Atlanta and Old Fourth Ward as the Atlanta BeltLine project develops. The Atlanta BeltLine is a sustainable redevelopment project that will provide a network of public parks, urban farms, multi-use trails and transit along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor circling downtown Atlanta and connecting many neighborhoods directly to each other. The Food Bank's workis focusedon meeting one of the most basic needs of food insecure, low-income Georgians living within our service area and thefaces of these individuals mirror those of our larger society. However, for this project, we know that the targeted population in the above areas is85% African American, 6% Caucasian, 6% Asian, 2% Hispanic, and 1% Other.This breakdown compares to the Food Bank's overall client group who are 61% African American, 24% Caucasian, 10% Hispanic, 4% Asian and 1% Native American/Alaska Native. In addition to the above, GFOA and its partners maintain a regular market presence in other areas of Atlanta including College Park, Grant Park and in nearbyDecatur. While these markets are inmore affluent areasand can havea customer base with higher incomes, they are located in public parks and along mass transit lines that are used by working, food insecure individuals and familiesmatching the demographicsofour primary target audience in other areas Changes/Problems:The Atlanta Community Food Bank's Georgia Food Oasis Atlanta FINI-funded project experienced one major issueat the start of the project/contract term as described below: Initially, project launch andimplementation was delayed at a total of nine sites which were part of the program including one Wayfield Foods storeand eight market sites/stalls managed by CFM. The late launch and implmentation was due to an inital delay in receiving funding approval for these sites. However, the project was implemented and launched at each site immediately after approval was received and all sites have produced highly satisfactory results during this reporting period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Atlanta Community Food Bank's Georgia Food Oasis-Fresh for Lesshas provided the following training and professionaldevelopment opportunities that, individually and in concert, align with the overall predicted goals, objectives and impacts of the project. These have included program training andreporting guidelinesworkshops for program participants, nutrition classes and cooking demonstrations at program participant locations and numerous speaking engagements and presentations by Food Bank staff to increase awareness of the program within the target population and the wider community. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results, ourcomes, impacts and related activitieshave been communicated to communities of interest through regular presentations, workshops, speaking engagements and electronic media. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The GFOA-Fresh Pass Program will do the following in the next reporting period: Continue working with our current SNAP incentive program participants to:where possible,expand the availability of the SNAP incentive program by increasing thenumber of days it is offered and increasing the number of hours of their operations. Continue offering cooking demonstrations and nutritional education classes at program participant locations, increase the visibility and understanding of the program through speaking engagements/presentations/workshops/etc. In line with our proposal and plan, work with the 8 program participants that are managed by the single entity to increase their capacity to store, manage and offer fresh produce. This includes reimbursement for materials, supplies and equipment for market stalls
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
General Impact: The Atlanta Community Food Bank's Georgia Food Oasis Atlanta-Fresh Pass Program has experienced exponential growth during this reporting period, generated numerous positive impacts both for program participants and, most importantly, for the individuals which were beneficiaries of the FINI-funded incentive program. Specifically, the target audiences of the Fresh Pass Program increased their overall knowledge of healthy food systems, became aware of innovative ways to maximize their SNAP benefits by getting additional amounts of fresh fruit and produce, gained knowledge on ways to improve their overall health and wellbeing through increased access to healthier foods and being exposed to cooking demonstrations and nutrition education classes. Narrative Program Update a) Maintainand increase number of access points for fresh, healthy food via traditional farmers markets, produce stands and retail locations in low-access neighborhoods. Update - During this reporting period, the GFOA-Fresh Pass Program increased the number access points for low-income individuals and families to receive SNAP-enable fresh fruit and produce. No activities were conducted in the first quarter due to a delay in program launch. 2nd Quarter: One participating marketin the Fresh Pass SNAP Incentive Program. This market was initially only open a few days per week but increased to 7 days per week after the incentive program launch, offered SNAP incentiveseach day they were open, conducted a total of 344 SNAP transactions. As a result of the above, the SNAP incentive was offered to more low-income, food insecure residents living within the local area. 3rd Quarter: Participating locations increased from 1 in the previous quarter to 2 participating locations in the third quarter. The original participating partner was (and still is) a small corner store while the new participant is farmers market. The participating corner store's activities related to this program remained the same as the previous quarter but the total number of SNAP transactions decreased by 74. The new program participant was only open threedays per week for a total of 39 days in the month. A total of 64 SNAP transactions were conducted during this reporting period. 4th Quarter: Participating locations increased from 2 in the previous quarter to a total of 11 participating locations includingthe original corner store and farmers market. The new program participants included a large grocery store/supermarket and eight additional farmers markets (four of which were located at mass transit locations). The activities for each of the program participants are listed below. Information for the 8 new farmers markets has been collated as they are managed by one single entity. Program participant 1 (Small Grocery Store): Open for 90 days of the quarter, 11 hours per day, incentive was only offered on 45 of those days for total of 277 SNAP transactions were conducted. Program participant 2 (Farmers Market): Open for 39 days during the quarter, the incentive was offered every day the market was operating and, again, increased the overall number of SNAP transitions to a total of 83. Program participant 3 (Grocery Store): Open for 90 days of the quarter, was a previous FINI participant, conducted a total of 14,040 SNAP transitions but the incentive was only offered on 6 of those days. The work conducted under this program during thereporting period significantly increased the access points for, and the amounts of, fresh produce for the target audience. b) Increaseoverall produce category sales and redemption of 2 for 1 SNAP incentives for fresh produce by at least 10% Update: Data was unavailable during this reporting period due to the late start for the majority of the program participants which only came into the program during the last quarter. However, data will be available during the next reporting period and this goal and objective will be updated at that time. c)Provide additionalincentives to increase awareness and outreach about SNAP incentive programs to drive customers to fresh produce access points. Update: Customers increased their awareness of the SNAP incentive program due to program participant-led awareness and education initiatives at their location(s) and in the community. Further, the Food Bank worked with interestedparties to hold workshops and speaking engagements where the SNAP incentive program was discussed and introduced into the targeted communities. These efforts reinforced the accessibility of the FINI-Fresh Pass incentive program at nontraditional locations such as farmers markets and corner stores. d)Improve the nutritionand health status of participating households. Update: Improving the nutrition and health status of participating households was accomplished in two ways: increasing the amount of produce participants are able to receive when using the incentive program and throughnutrition education classes and healthy cooking demonstrations conducted by Food Bank staff members at participating locations. The majority of the nutrition education and cooking demonstration activities were conducted during the fourth quarter where all but one participating store/market hosted one or both of the activities.
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