Robert S. Jones Returns to the National CACFP Forum

It's Official...
​​It is with great enthusiasm that the National CACFP Forum Board welcomes back Mr. Robert S. Jones to the National CACFP Forum Board.  He has been on a leave of absence from his volunteer duties as a National CACFP Forum Board Member this past year while completing his Master’s Degree in Business Administration.  Mr. Jones’ talents have been sorely missed, especially his sense of humor.  His contributions to the mission of protecting CACFP, perfecting the policies that govern it and promoting leadership within CACFP have been invaluable. 

Robert serves as Director of Government Programs for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  The Archdiocese provides CACFP meals and sponsorship to nearly 300 unaffiliated sites, reaching more than 12,000 children on a daily basis.  The Archdiocese’s sponsorship encompasses Traditional Child Care Centers, Afterschool Programs (At-Risk) and Emergency Shelters throughout the five-county Greater Philadelphia region.  In total, these three CACFP segments provide approximately 3 million meals annually. 

In 2015, Robert celebrated the provision of 50 million CACFP meals over a 20-year career.  That number is now ready to eclipse 55 million meals.  Robert shares that the “millions served” numbers make him a feel a little like a “McDonald’s sign,” but with an overriding passion to provide the highest quality meals possible to the children that they serve.  Robert’s work is highly motivated by his faith.  Following his return home from the FRAC conference in March, he shared with the Forum Board, “I was thinking of how God specially created each of the children that we serve with a wonderful plan for them.  For many, all that stands in the way of the realization of that dream is sound nutrition.  You are laboring to make that happen…you are facilitating God’s purpose in their lives…you have a high and noble calling.  Let’s press on!”

A very big Thank You to Mrs. Jones and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for sharing Robert's time for the mission of Protecting, Perfecting and Promoting the Child and Adult Care Food Program to continue to serve children and our communities through this vital nutrition program...