1. Food voucher programs and the effect on children
Sarah Stahl
FN 4350

2. Purpose
The purpose of my project was to research a nonprofit organization that gives families in need food vouchers and to find out how nutritious they are for children.

3. introduction

4. My Focus
My focus was to look at a food voucher program and how it effects children
Look at how the program is paid for
If the options of the program are nutritious
Investigate how families qualify
Investigate if there is any nutritional education provided

5. Methods I conducted a survey that consisted of 8 subjects
All of the subjects were workers at Hancock Christian Clearing House (the nonprofit organization)
The survey consisted of 10 open ended questions
Personally interviewed two of the subjects to gather more information

6. Survey How does the food voucher program work?
How are the food vouchers paid for?
What can the food vouchers be used for?
Is there any nutritional information provided to the families?
How do families qualify for the food voucher program?
How do you think families with children benefit from the food voucher program?
How do you as a worker feel about the program
How do you as a worker think the families feel about the program?
Do you think the food voucher program is a healthy choice for children?
Do you think the food voucher program benefits children? How?

7. Results The way it works: Paid for by: Vouchers are used for:
Client comes into the office and is evaluated
They are given a voucher for Great Scott (only groceries)
Up to $25
Paid for by:
Donations
Fundraisers (garage sale, spaghetti and pancake dinners, golf outing)
Churches
Vouchers are used for:
Nutritional, healthy foods
Fruits, vegetables, meats, bread, eggs, cereal etc
No “junk” food, pop, alcohol, cigarettes

8. Results
Families qualify by:
Question and answer interview done by worker
based on income and financial situation
May be helped twice in a 6 month period
Must be a Hancock County resident
Household Size
Yearly Income
Monthly Income
Weekly Income 1
$22,339
$1,861
$429 2
$30,259
$2,521
$581 3
$38,179
$3,181
$734 4
$46,099
$3,841
$886 5
$54,019
$4,501
$1,038 6
$61,939
$5,161
$1,191
For each person added
$7,920
$660
$152

9. Nutritional Background
OSU extension comes every Monday and Wednesday
They prepare a cheap nutritional recipe for the clients
They give clients nutritional background information (different topic each time)
Clients love it!
Also they bring food from the West Ohio Food bank
They must listen to her and watch presentation in order to get food
Once a week they get: 2 cans fruit, 2 cans vegetables, 1 can soup, 1 box cereal, 1 box pasta noodles, 1 can pasta sauce, 1 can fruit juice, 1 jar peanut butter, and 1 dozen of eggs

10. How it helps children Children are not going hungry
The guidelines make sure the parents are making healthy choices for children
Since OSU extension, children are getting healthier meals
Food donated is mainly nutritious food
Drawbacks:
Some parents do not know how to cook so they are still giving their children processed frozen meals
$25 is not a lot for a family but they are trying to increase the amount

11. Limitations Limited to 10 questions Only 8 subjects
Only workers, no clients were willing to take my survey
Only one organization, organization is only offered in Findlay, OH

12. References