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Bettendorf nutrition director says summer pop-ups, local procurement boosted meal reach by 25%
Summary
Nutrition services manager Michelle Riesen told the board the district served 3,929 lunches and 1,493 breakfasts during summer outreach, with park pop-ups and a regional procurement grant credited for a 25% increase in lunches over 2024.
Michelle Riesen, the district’s nutrition services manager, told the Bettendorf Comm School District board on Sept. 25 that the district expanded summer meal access through park pop-ups, community partnerships and a three-year grant that helped cover labor and local procurement.
Riesen said the district spun up lunches at parks and rotated sites to reach families, partnering with Field for Family and regional vendors. "We don't discriminate. Everyone can come. There's no paperwork involved. No questions asked," she said while describing outreach at McManus, Damanas and Edgewood parks.
The presentation said pop-up lunches at parks totaled 684 meals and school-site lunches totaled 3,245 — 3,929 lunches and 1,493 breakfasts served across 31 operating days. Riesen told the board the district served "25% more lunches in 2025 than we did in 2024," attributing growth to added sites, marketing outreach and grant-supported staff.
Riesen described the grant funding timeline as beginning in June 2024 and running through September 2026. She said the grant covered labor costs for four positions during the summer months and supported local procurement to buy produce and dairy from regional suppliers.
Board members asked about outreach and eligibility. Riesen explained the district uses free- and reduced-price eligibility thresholds and the Community Eligibility Provision to identify areas for service, and that any child could take a summer meal without forms.
The district also highlighted partnerships with parks staff (identified in the presentation as John Byers, director of Benton Parks and Rec) and with a Quad Cities vendor, and said district staff presented the program at a statewide School Nutrition Conference to share marketing practices with other directors.
The board acknowledged the work of nutrition staff and noted the program’s role in supporting students during out-of-school months. The presentation closed with district thanks to Riesen and her team and recognition of national awards for the district’s work on meal innovation.
Next steps: staff will continue the local procurement and outreach partnerships through the grant period and report back on participation in future board communications.
