Official Site of The State of New Jersey

This work in approximately five words: Multilingual outreach to increase enrollment

The Simple Path to School Meal Benefits project is supported by OFSA's Building Expanded Access to Nutritious School Meals (BEANS) grant program. Greater Newark Conservancy is expanding access to school meals by increasing awareness of eligibility and supporting families in completing school meal applications, with a focus on non-English-speaking families and communities experiencing higher levels of food insecurity.

The project will develop a multilingual, animated informational video that explains the benefits of participating in the school meal programs, New Jersey's expanded eligibility requirements, and how families can complete the application process. The videos will also highlight local resources available to support families throughout Essex County. To maximize accessibility and reach, the campaign will distribute the videos through multiple outreach channels, including QR codes incorporated into USPS mailers, social media, website hosting, billboards, and other community-facing promotional materials. Greater Newark Conservancy will also facilitate the distribution of school meal applications in school districts with the greatest need. 

The project will use community-level information to tailor outreach, identify potential barriers to application completion, and focus resources where they can reach families most effectively. This project supports the New Jersey Food Security Strategic Plan through Strategy 3.1 Tailored Education, Outreach, and Awareness Efforts.