Kids’ Food Basket
Southland donates 1 penny for every car washed at all Southland locations... which adds up to a lot of pennies!
"Attacking Childhood Hunger in greater Grand Rapids."
We began over eight years ago by serving 125 kids each school day through our sack supper program and now serve over 4,800 kids each day. Sack suppers are evening meals that provide 1000 calories and five food groups—nutrition that’s critical to the development of kids’ brains and bodies.
One in four Michigan children goes hungry every day, and Kids’ Food Basket is working to change that. We attack childhood hunger by providing nutritious evening meals to kids and engaging our community through volunteering and education.
Kids’ Food Basket is the only organization in greater Grand Rapids focused solely on childhood hunger. We work to end it using an approach that:
Serves kids directly
During the school year, sack suppers are distributed within the classroom, to ensure every student who needs one can easily get one. During the summer, sack suppers are distributed at 15 park sites each weekday. Our sack suppers fill a gap that schools and parents often cannot afford, in a way that is accessible and safe for kids.
During the school year, sack suppers are distributed within the classroom, to ensure every student who needs one can easily get one. During the summer, sack suppers are distributed at 15 park sites each weekday. Our sack suppers fill a gap that schools and parents often cannot afford, in a way that is accessible and safe for kids.
Creates an engine for volunteering
Each day, over 125 volunteers prepare and deliver sack suppers in our building, as part of our team.
Each day, over 125 volunteers prepare and deliver sack suppers in our building, as part of our team.
Empowers kids to help each other
Through volunteering and educational programs, we help kids understand the challenges of hunger and give them the opportunity to lead projects that benefit fellow kids. Over 25% of hours volunteered at Kids’ Food Basket come from youth under age 18.
Through volunteering and educational programs, we help kids understand the challenges of hunger and give them the opportunity to lead projects that benefit fellow kids. Over 25% of hours volunteered at Kids’ Food Basket come from youth under age 18.