Kids’ Food Basket nourishes children living at or near the poverty level with critical evening meals to level the playing field for their academic achievement.  Equipping children and families with greater access to fresh, locally grown food can help us build a more vibrant, healthier West Michigan.

Kids’ Food Basket is a grassroots, community solution to childhood hunger.  We engage all who care about children reaching their full potential – in school and in life.  We began over a decade ago by serving 125 kids each school day through our Sack Supper program and now serve nearly 8,200 kids each weekday in West Michigan.   Kids’ Food Basket has locations in Kent, Muskegon, and Ottawa Counties.  In 2019, KFB launched pilot programs in Allegan County – Pullman, Fennville, and Allegan public school districts – servicing them from their location on the south side of Holland.

Lowering the numbers: 1 in 5 Michigan children are affected by hunger and thousands of West Michigan children are food insecure—they can’t count on having access to good, nourishing food every day.

Providing nutrition to fuel healthy development: Consistent, nutritious meals support cognitive development and help children focus by meeting critical health needs.  With healthy calories, we can lessen the risk of conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Healthy calories also help children avoid behavioral issues such as irritability, aggression, and anxiety.

Breaking the cycle of poverty: Hunger is both a symptom and a cause of poverty—and should not be a barrier to success. Nourished children can perform better in school, which leads to greater academic achievement and more opportunities.

Building strong community: The entire community benefits as the issues caused by childhood hunger are improved and more children learn and live well. Connecting people who have a wide variety of perspectives and experiences harness the power of diversity and help our collective work stay impactful with lasting benefits.