Background

During my time as a Research Project Manager at Philabundance in Philadelphia, I led the evaluation of their Lunchbox Program, designed to deliver nutritious meals to underserved youth during summer—a critical gap when school meal services were unavailable. The goal: ensure the program not only reached children in need, but truly supported their well-being and trust in the initiative.

Approach

I used a grounded, mixed-methods framework that combined rigorous data with community collaboration:

• Mixed-Methods Evaluation: Pre- and post-program surveys measured shifts in food security and nutritional habits.

• Community-Based Participatory Research: Parents and community members co-developed evaluation tools, ensuring alignment with lived realities and needs.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Conversations with program administrators, volunteers, and leaders helped illuminate operational strengths, trust points, and areas for improvement.

• Inclusive Data Analysis: Trends and feedback were synthesized across methods—revealing both impact and opportunity zones.

Outcome

The evaluation culminated in a dynamic, community-informed report featuring:

• A clear executive summary articulating program reach and trust-related insights.

• Data-driven findings showcasing improvements in food security and participation patterns.

• Narrative insights reflecting participant and stakeholder experiences and needs.

• Targeted recommendations, including more community-driven program touchpoints, refined distribution strategies, and strengthened nutrition education components.

• Guidance for ongoing evaluation, ensuring that the program continues to adapt and expand its impact over time.