August 19, 2019

Nutritional Development Services Of The Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Meets 60 Million Meal Milestone Through Child Care Food Program (CACFP))

This milestone is representative of NDS’ mission for over four decades to serve children and those in need with food and food-related resources

Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (NDS) is pleased to announce that it has served more than 60 million meals to children and youth throughout the greater Philadelphia area through its Child Care Food Program (CACFP).

Sponsored by NDS, this program provides wholesome, nourishing meals and snacks to children and youth who are enrolled for care at participating child care centers, afterschool programs, and emergency shelters.

Ms. Brooke Mullen, MS, RDN, LDN, Assistant Director of Community Relations for NDS said, “Offering children healthy foods at a young age helps lay a foundation of lifelong healthy habits and prevention of food-related diseases.  Through the Child and Adult Care Food Program, NDS has a wonderful opportunity to empower our youngest population to adopt healthy behaviors through exposure to a variety of nourishing family style meals each day.  The family style meals are a great way to engage children in their food choices, foster independence and control of their choices, and inspires sharing and conversation around food. The milestone of 60 million meals is a testament to the dedication and diligence of the NDS Child Care team to feed children throughout Philadelphia and surrounding counties.  We are grateful for the opportunity to be the stewards of a government program that plays a significant role in developing the health and well-being of our city’s future leaders.”

The CACFP is federally funded and operated nationally by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In our region, it is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

In 2018, NDS partnered with 250 sites and served approximately 2.75 million meals to children and youth who otherwise would have struggled to obtain nutritious food from other sources.

Participating child care centers provide children with breakfast, hot or cold lunch and a snack. Participating afterschool programs provide children with either a snack, hot or cold supper. In addition, all meals follow federal guidelines for nutrition, and lunches and suppers provide 1/3 of a child’s daily nutritional requirements.  NDS also offers select infant formula and cereals to parents whose infants are in care at centers under NDS sponsorship.

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Editor’s Note: For over forty-five years, NDS’ mission has been to serve children and those in need with healthy food and food-related resources. NDS accomplishes its mission in two distinct ways: by administering the federally-funded child nutrition programs and through the privately supported Community Food Program. To learn more about Nutritional Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please visit http://nutritionaldevelopmentservices.org/