Happy harvest, Kids’ Food Basket community! It has been a whirlwind of activity over the summer to ensure that the end of 2019 yields the fruits of our labor of love. As you know, Kids’ Food Basket has moved our headquarters in Grand Rapids to expand our reach and deliver on our mission to nourish kids to reach their full potential. You may not know that this is the first time we have our own space — and with it a 10-acre farm, a barn and greenhouse to build a strong foundation for feeding our future.

We can’t underestimate the impact a consistent nourishing evening meal has on children and families across our community. Families who are working hard to make ends meet. Kids’ Food Basket Sack Suppers provide more than a meal. They bring the peace of mind to a child that their basic needs are consistently covered. With the right nourishment, they can focus on the purpose of being a kid… to grow, learn, and engage.

The reality is that access to good, healthy, nourishing food is limited by rising costs, the locations where we live and what we understand as a community. We are serving approximately 8,800 students each school day, but there are thousands more on our waiting list across the Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon and Allegan service areas. Children waiting to eat. Communities ready to respond.

As we expand our footprint, we increase our capacity to deliver Sack Suppers to meet this need. We know that there is invite potential among the brilliant minds of the children we are serving. We are ready to respond to the poverty and hunger issues that affect our community, both now and into the future.

Growing Opportunities to Create Change

At Kids’ Food Basket, our commitment to growth means that kids have the nourishment they need to be their best, and the West Michigan community is securing their success. Opportunities to volunteer, donate, and spread the word about our work are available at each location. The basket is bigger today than when we began this work 17 years ago — and we are ready to grow with you. Our work is not possible without the engagement of the strong and generous West Michigan community.

We don’t know what food security, poverty, or agriculture will look like in ten years. But we do know that because of your help and support, we are ready to respond. Poverty is complex, but feeding a child is not. In West Michigan, we have stepped up together year after year to ensure that our next generation is growing with a strong foundation for good food.

However you choose to support our work, we urge you to remember that an investment in our children is an investment in the future success of West Michigan. You are a vital part of this next season. A strong West Michigan depends on strong kids. Feeding our future depends on YOU.

Peace, Bridget Clark Whitney, Founding CEO

In West Michigan, we have stepped up together to ensure that our generation is growing with a strong foundation for good food.

P.S. Today there are over 30 schools across West Michigan on our waiting list. That means there are thousands of students in need of a healthy, nutritious meal. To meet this demand, we work in collaboration with other organizations in the hunger, nutrition and agriculture spaces. We utilize data — like the 7,500 county survey and 15 listening sessions with families and kids we serve — to design and evaluate our programs. The solution to food insecurity requires collaboration and amplification to grow fresh produce, provide education on nutrition and engagement opportunities for volunteers who are committed to caring for our kids.