Service Insights
At the simplest level, Service Insights is an electronic intake platform that collects basic administrative and demographic data from the clients we serve during intake at our food distributions.
However, at a deeper level, Service Insights is what we learn from that data and how we use it. The reports and insights that we can get from this new information can fundamentally change the way we make decisions and fight hunger across the communities we serve.
For example, one key piece of information that electronic intake provides us with is unduplicated service numbers, which shows us how many individuals and families we are actually serving rather than the number of times we have given out food. Saying that you currently feed 1,000 families per month is very different than serving 250 families 4 times each month. This is especially important if we know that there are an estimated 3,500 families who are food insecure in that county. This data will provide insight into how many households are having their food insecurity needs met and how many more we may still need to reach. We can then focus on the areas where we are not yet meeting the need.
Bigger Picture: Why Service Insights?
Why is this important to Feeding America and
its nationwide network of food banks?
Feeding America launched this effort as a response to network leaders’ desire to prioritize and optimize access to real-time data, particularly from neighbors; and reduce the high cost of technologies that creates a barrier to equitable access. To best use our resources as a network and work toward meeting our collective needs of having more timely neighbor insights now and into the future, a no-cost Service Insights platform is now available as an option to all network members.
A network-informed and nationally supported platform allows us to prioritize features that align with our shared commitment to keep neighbors at the center of all we do and address racial disparities. Service Insights is:
- Neighbor-centered to remove physical and digital barriers to the way neighbors receive assistance in a dignified and efficient way.
- Nationally available to be able to better serve high-need communities and vulnerable populations.
- Offering more timely access to data so that we can better anticipate and respond to our neighbors’ needs.
Learn more about this initiative being led by Feeding America and the important impact it can have on fighting hunger across the United States.
What are the benefits for Foodlink members?
Streamlined intake eases the strain on staff and volunteers
- Fast and simple intake process
- Quickly look up neighbors when they arrive
- Eliminate paperwork and binders
- Flexibility to enter service information later
- Option to use barcode cards to increase speed of intake process
Digital TEFAP forms and reporting
- No more storing paper neighbor files
- Automated compliance report for monitoring and audit visits
Better prepare for your neighbor’s needs
- Track dietary restrictions
- Identify the need for foods to address health conditions
- See trends in attendance to assist with placing online orders
Simple reports and built-in data dashboard with visualizations
- Use pre-built dashboards to quickly see information about your distributions
- Maps of the zip codes you serve and how many neighbors you are serving
- Export dashboards, graphs, and maps easily to share with Board or funders
Track all services provided through a single platform
- Track additional programs available to neighbors like SNAP assistance, clothing closets, referrals, etc.
- Track pounds, amounts, or dollars associated with these additional programs
- Report on these additional programs and services just like food distributions
Fully supported platform through Foodlink
- In-person hardware set-up and software training
- Training videos and written guides available on Foodlink website
- Customized support to ensure the platform works for your distribution style and services you provide
See the direct impact on your community
- See who you are serving and what gaps in service may need to be addressed
Eliminate monthly reporting of clients served (statistics) to Foodlink
- Client served numbers for each distribution are made available to Foodlink through Service Insights
- No need to report monthly statistics in Agency Express
What are the benefits for the clients you serve?
- Single intake to visit any organization in the Foodlink Partner Member Network
- Consistent customer experience through a standardized intake process
- Increased security for their personal information compared to paper files
- Record of dietary restrictions or assistance needed for better customer experience
Basic Food Safety Online Training Resources
Food Pantries
Do not use this training if you prepare meals at your site.
Prepared Meal Sites
The content covered in the food pantry training is covered within this training.
Meal sites that are open to the public: See below for further training requirements.
