In partnership with the Food Bank of South Jersey (FBSJ), WRI is evaluating the efficacy and impact of various health and wellness education programs that the organization coordinates throughout the region. Using both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including secondary data analysis, WRI will seek to identify any gaps in service and provide a comprehensive report of the strengths, weaknesses and reach of their community programs. This evaluation also includes a quantitative analysis of program impact before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is a growing informational need of many community organizations serving residents.
This work is central to WRI’s mission for organizational development. In our collaboration with the FBSJ, our research results may provide insight and opportunities for the Food Bank of South Jersey to make evidence-based programmatic decisions. The project began in September and is slated for completion in March 2021.