Email: kimberly.moore@kidsfoodbasket.org
Kids’ Food Basket Responds to the Call!
With Mandated School Closures, We Need You More Than Ever
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. - At Kids’ Food Basket, we are working to balance the need to provide nutritious food for our community’s children with our priority regarding the safety and health of our staff, volunteers, students and families. In response to the state of Michigan mandated school closures and the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, Kids’ Food Basket will continue its emergency food provision strategy in Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa and Allegan counties, as long as it is safe and responsible to do so.
In the past three weeks, Kids’ Food Basket has distributed over 85,000 emergency food bags at over 70 community distribution sites located in densely populated areas serving low-income families. Our partner organizations are distributing food to individuals and families identified as high need.
On March 18, we began limiting on-site volunteer opportunities, this modification allowed us to pack and distribute meals while limiting exposure to our staff, volunteers and the building.
In addition, our regional teams moved their packing sessions to our Grand Rapids facility so that we could centralize procurement, packing and initial distribution to continue to provide food to all four of the counties that we serve.
Since that change, the State of Michigan has mandated a stay-at-home order until April 13. With this directive, Kids’ Food Basket suspended on-site volunteer opportunities until April 13. Kids’ Food Basket staff is currently preparing, packing and distributing meals to reduce the risk to our volunteers because avirus cannot and will not stop hunger.
“For 18 years, this community has counted on Kids’ Food Basket to show up when our kids and families needed us most. Now, because West Michigan children no longer have the safety net of school and school meals, we are needed more than ever,” said Bridget Clark Whitney, president and founding CEO. “From day one of the school closures, Kids’ Food Basket has been on the front line. This is who we are. This is what we do. Together as a community we will get through this critical time and support those who need help the most.”
Kids’ Food Basket is a charitably funded non-profit organization. Your support makes it possible for us to continue to show up, even during the COVID-19 crisis. Kids’ Food Basket is accepting monetary donations to go towards its ongoing emergency response efforts. Donations can be made by Text to Give. Text “KFB” to 56651 to donate.
Kids’ Food Basket (Pre-COVID-19)
Kids’ Food Basket, best known for its flagship Sack Suppers program, provides a free, well-balanced nutritious evening meal distributed within classrooms at the end of each school day. Through the Sack Supper program, Kids’ Food Basket serves over 8,800 kids at 52 schools were 70 percent or more of the student population receive free or reduced-cost lunch in Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa and Allegan counties. More than 300 volunteers are needed each day to help prepare, pack and deliver Sack Suppers. To learn more about our programs or how you can make a difference, please visit www.kidsfoodbasket.org.