In late 2021 Community Action House (CAH) opened the Food Club & Opportunity Hub to serve low-income community members. Designed as a more modern and dignified model than a traditional food pantry, members pay a small monthly fee to receive points for independently shopping in a grocery store setting. The Opportunity Hub side of the model functions as a powerful touchpoint to refer to or educate on other programs or services. DSI staff have been involved with the project since before the Food Club opened its doors.
In the summer of 2024, DSI staff received the data collected over the initial 16 months of operation, which was used to create a final 16-month evaluation of the Food Club & Opportunity Hub. This evaluation was able to include analysis from entry, 6 months, 12 months, and 16 months. The longitudinal data helps Community Action House better understand the outcomes and impact on participants to inform future program decisions and demonstrate the program’s success to funders and the community.
The DSI was proud to be a part of this three-and-a-half-year long project evaluating the early implementation of such a great program for our community. The project demonstrates the potential and success of public-nonprofit partnerships between Strategic Impact and those who serve Ottawa County.
