Changing Lives Year-Round for Kids

In Northeast Ohio, nearly 1 in 4 children are food insecure. Our Children’s Nutrition Initiatives are a top priority in ensuring children in our service area receive the food they need to thrive all year long.

School Markets – Held at local schools, these markets provide children and their families with produce and perishable foods that are typically distributed at the end of the school day, making it easier for them to access the fresh, nutritious food they need.

BackPacks for Kids – Each weekend, children take home six child-friendly, easy-to-prepare meals. The backpacks include two breakfast options, two entrees, and two snacks to sustain children throughout the weekend.

Kids Cafe – The Food Bank provides free after-school meals to children through our partnerships with local libraries and public-school programs.

Summer Meals Program – When school is out, this program provides free meals to help children get the nutrition they need during the summer months to stay nourished and energized.

Kids’ Meal Taste Test – At this spring event, kids from several of our partner agencies sample and rate new meals we’d like to include on the Children’s Nutrition Initiatives menu. This fun, interactive event helps us continue to provide nutritious food that kids will want to eat!

Your support helps ensure we can keep offering these programs to children and families who need it most.

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