Sponsor Spotlight: Lana Taylor with Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs
Sponsor of At-Risk Afterschool and SFSP
August 20, 2024
Lana Taylor is the Executive Director of Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs (BGCIN) that represents all Boys & Girls Club organizations across Indiana. BGCIN applies for and provides grants to BGCs, supports curriculum and program development, provides statewide trainings, and provides professional development opportunities. BGCIN also works with AmeriCorps, overseeing 230 AmeriCorps members serving at clubs across Indiana where they do projects focused on education and healthy lifestyle. BGCIN is also a sponsor of 42 clubs participating in CACFP At-Risk Afterschool and 16 clubs participating in SFSP. During the school year, BGCIN ensures meals to around 8,500 children, and during the summer they support meal service to approximately 3,000 children.
BGCIN began participating in CACFP in 2008 after receiving a grant that required them to provide meals or snacks to the children in their programs. After surveying their clubs, BGCIN found that many clubs weren’t providing healthful foods at that time. Their clubs expressed interest in participating in CACFP, so BGCIN stepped into the sponsorship role.
From Lana’s perspective, BGCIN is a successful sponsor because they’ve developed deep relationships and have become an integral part of their communities. They have close partnerships with vendors, providers, community partners, and even the Indiana State Legislature. Because of their partnership with the legislature, they receive $2 million each year to support programming for college, career, and workforce development programs.
Another reason Lana thinks they’re successful sponsors (and an important tip she would give to other sponsors) is because they get their kids involved with the meals. Most of their clubs do taste test activities with the kids in August when the afterschool programs are starting back up, so that the kids can provide their feedback on the types of foods they like and don’t like. BGCIN uses their feedback to adapt their menus for the rest of the year. Lana thinks this feedback is invaluable, because they’ve learned that the kids love foods that BGCIN wouldn’t have thought kids would eat (boiled eggs) and didn’t like foods they thought the kids would enjoy. Plus, taste tests are a lot of fun for kids and staff!
“The kids are one of our stakeholders and the most important stakeholder in this situation. Having them be an integral part of it is what helps them, helps us, helps our communities. WE feel like we’re providing an important service to those families.”
Although the program can be overwhelming at times, Lana and BGCIN are committed to continuing to sponsor the CACFP because of the benefits it brings to the children. Not only does the CACFP expose children to a greater variety of foods, but it also creates consistency for them. When kids come to their club, they know that they’re going to get dinner or snack that day, and many families rely on that service for their children.
“I think the biggest thing is just knowing it is supporting our kids. It’s giving them food. It’s making sure they’re not going hungry – at least not within our club. We want to try to continue to provide that and help. That’s why we’ve never removed ourselves from it.”
The CACFP helps their clubs offer opportunities to serve better and more nutritious options to the kids. The children are getting access to healthier foods than what they would get outside of the program. Lana is motivated to continue working in support of the CACFP because being able to see the kids' faces and seeing them eat nutritious meals is incredibly rewarding. They’ve even received letters from parents thanking them for providing food for their kids, because busy work schedules prevent them from being home to give their children dinner.
“It’s not just about that 15 minutes or 30 minutes that they’re eating that snack. It’s a commitment. It’s about their lifestyle. It’s teaching them about being healthier, being more active, and trying new things. I love that part of it.”
BGCIN is one-hundred percent committed to continuing and growing their work in the CACFP. This year, they made a commitment to engage their clubs more in advocacy to push forward positive change for the CACFP at the state and federal levels. Instead of being discouraged by some of the challenges of the CACFP, BGCIN is working to address them and expand access to the program for afterschool programs in Indiana and nationally.
In Indiana, Lana has supported the CACFP at Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs since 2008.