CHARITY

Kids’ Food Basket (KFB) was founded to nourish children to reach their full potential. We are a community-based food equity nonprofit supporting our West Michigan neighbors in Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa and Allegan counties who are under-resourced and impacted by poverty and food insecurity. Our services include our flagship Sack Supper program, community-driven farming, family food provision and educational programming.

Kids’ Food Basket is now serving about 10,000 weekday evening meals to 60 schools in four counties. We work toward a future in which all children have access to the nourishment that fosters their lifelong health and limitless potential.

To learn more about KFB’s programs, services and how you can make a difference, please visit kidsfoodbasket.org.

History

In 2002, our founder Mary K. Hoodhood received a phone call that changed everything. A local school principal reached out and said that students were regularly going into the cafeteria after school in search of food to take home. Mary identified an immediate need. With $3,000 and a handful of volunteers, she committed to providing a solution to childhood hunger in our community.  

Kids’ Food Basket was founded. We began by providing 125 students at three schools in Kent County with nourishing evening meals in a brown bag, which we called Sack Suppers. Nearly 20 years later, thanks to the support of a diverse range of community partners, we have grown to now serve thousands of children and families in four counties throughout West Michigan every day.
 

What They Do

Since 2002, Kids’ Food Basket has delivered a nourishing evening meal each weekday to elementary-age children attending schools with low-access to resources. Students enrolled in Kids' Food Basket programming attend schools where, on average, 70% or more of students receive free or reduced-cost breakfast and lunch. In 2002, Kids' Food Basket was delivering meals to 125 children in Kent County. By 2022, Kids' Food Basket was nourishing approximately 10,000 children at 60 schools throughout Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, and Allegan counties, delivering not just meals, but fresh produce grown on its community-driven farmland and nutrition education.

Charity Raffle and Silent Auction:

ERICSA will be holding a daily raffle at the conference and a weeklong silent auction. Attendees can purchase raffle tickets and bid on silent auction items to support the charity.

Click here for the raffle and silent auction rules.