@NRCNA_engAging

September 10, 2020

@NRCNA_engAging

The Power of Partnerships to Drive Senior Nutrition COVID-19 

Response and Recovery

Part 1: Potent Partnerships in the Age of COVID-19

• August 31, 2020

Part 2: Mapping Your Partnerships Assets

• September 10, 15, 16 and 17, 2020

• Restaurants

• Emergency Services

• Technology

• Food Systems

Visit: https://nutritionandaging.org/virtual-summer-series-2020/
@NRCNA_engAging

• Gain Insight:

• Into an example of a partnership – learn from their 

partnership story to glean ideas, and get inspired about 

possible partnerships of your own

• Consider Your Assets: 

• Spend some time thinking about your local partnership 

assets that can be engaged to seed a new collaboration 

or expand an existing initiative 

• Share Your Map, Learn From Peers, Stay Connected:

• Log on to NRCNAengage after the webinar to share, 

learn and carry on the conversation!
@NRCNA_engAging

• NRCNAengage is an online venue for senior nutrition program staff 

across the country to connect, share and network with your peers!

Signing up is easy! 

Visit www.nrcna.mn.co

and click ‘Invite’!

Introduction: Senior Resource Alliance

• Founded in 1985

• Covers 4-county area of 

Central Florida

• Serves 30,000+ elders and 

caregivers annually 

• Coordinates, develops, 

monitors, and evaluates 

services and resources

• Enables elders to age with 

independence and dignity

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Innovating in the 

Age of COVID-19

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The Situation 

Florida is a hospitality-driven state with 

a large senior population

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The Situation 

Restaurants

• Florida = $111.7 billion hospitality 

industry with 1.5 million employees

• 5-7 million restaurant workers lost 

their jobs in March (Nation’s 

Restaurant News)

• $225 billion in direct losses 

forecasted for the restaurant 

industry 

• March 20: All Florida restaurants 

paused dine-in services; many 

closed altogether

Seniors

• 26.5% of Floridians are 60+

• 50% of seniors dine out at 

least once a week (Gallup)

• Seniors are high-risk for 

COVID-19

• Stay-at-home orders = 

limited dining/grocery 

options, limited interactions 

with caregivers

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The Opportunity 

• March 25: Florida DOEA 

announced Governorbacked partnership 

w/DBPR and FRLA

– Matched needs of 

restaurant business 

community w/needs of 

seniors

• Senior Resource Alliance 

selected to run the pilot

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The Solution: Meals of Love 

“More than a meal – nourishment for the 

soul”

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The Solution: Meals of Love 

• Emergency Nutrition 

Assistance for Homebound 

Seniors

• Created in direct response to 

pandemic 

• Funded by CARES Act

• Florida’s restaurant initiative: a 

win, win, win

• 200,000 meals served since 

April 1

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The Impact 

“This program saved my kitchen staff. 

Without Meals of Love, we had 3 staff and 

now we have 12 full-time staff in the 

kitchen alone. We’re able to keep 

operations going and our former 

unemployed servers are now delivering.” –

restaurant owner Mike Sanchez

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The Impact 

“If it weren’t for Meals of Love, our 

restaurant wouldn’t be operating right now. 

It means the world to us to not only be able 

to support our community during this trying 

time, but also to put our employees to 

work.” – restaurant owner Eduardo Colón

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The Impact 

“I’m 81 and have had 

a stint and AFib, so I’m 

aware I’m at risk with 

COVID. I was getting 

discouraged, then I was 

told to call Meals of 

Love. What an amazing 

service! ... The food is 

not only delicious, it 

lifted my spirits ... Your 

service has done so 

much for me.”

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The Impact 

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So ...

How Did We Get There?

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First 48 Hours 

• Selected program name

• Created website/registration form

• Hired program manager

• Connected w/restaurant partner

• Briefed provider agencies

• Established COVID-19 precautions/guidelines

• Hired PR/marketing agency

• Set infrastructure for identifying seniors/data 

collection

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Media Blitz

• TV/radio/print/online

• Bilingual strategy – 21% of 

coverage in Hispanic outlets

• Op-eds, contributed articles

• Zoom and on-site TV 

interviews

• 101 earned media 

placements in the first month

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Launching Meals of Love 

• Started with 1 restaurant and 200 meals in 1 county

• Ended 1st week with 800 meals and 10 restaurants 

in 4 counties 

• Goal was to feed 1,000 seniors/day ... 

After 18 days: 1,800 seniors/day served

After one month: 2,555 seniors/day served

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Considerations 

• COVID safety and 

precautions

• Screening restaurant partners

• Meeting the needs of diverse 

audiences

• Meeting demand

– 22-person, bilingual call center –

repurposed idle staff, all working 

remotely from home

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Embracing Challenges 

• Immediate demand

• SRA mobilized drive-thrus

and volunteer drivers

• Transportation

– Started program trying to 

contract transportation 

– Transitioned to restaurants 

handling (increased 

incentive)

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Embracing Challenges 

• Meal delivery schedule

– Started daily

– Shifted to 3x/week

• Meal cost

– Started with varied 

levels

– Negotiated 

$5/meal price point 

to maximize funds

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Mapping Your Assets

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Karla’s 3 Tips for Mapping Your Assets 

1. Keep your relationships strong

2. Have clear goals and vision

3. Be action-oriented

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Keep Your Relationships Strong 

• Successful 

relationships are built 

on:

– Trust

– Mutuality

– Respect

– Integrity 

– Value

• Treat everyone you 

meet as a potential 

partner

• Know each 

partner’s strength 

• Always be ready to 

assemble an all-star 

team

“Have rockstars on speed dial” 

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Have Clear Goals and Vision 

• Be honest with yourself and your stakeholders

• Aim high – but be realistic

• Anticipate challenges

• Be resilient 

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Be Action-Oriented 

• Lead with passion and enthusiasm

• Keep your team energized

• Be ready to organize at a moment’s notice

• Embrace challenges

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Live Asset Mapping

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Questions?

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@NRCNA_engAging

• Share Your Map, Learn From Peers, Stay Connected:

• Log on to NRCNAengage after the webinar to share, 

learn and carry on the conversation!

Signing up is easy! 

Visit www.nrcna.mn.co

and click ‘Invite’!
THANK YOU

SEE YOU ON NRCNAengage

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