Facts at a Glance

KFB served 404,409 evening meals last fiscal year (July 1 2009 -June 30, 2010) to kids who are food insecure
This summer we are serving 29 sites up to 1,800 meals per day. During the summer of 2009, KFB served 1,200 children at 13 park and summer school sites every weekday for nine weeks.
KFB finished the 2009/2010 school year provides over 2,500 sack suppers daily to children in 26 schools for evening at-home consumption
Another 13 schools remain on a waiting list for sack suppers
KFB provides 1,000 calories and five food groups in each sack supper
One serving of fresh fruit* and fresh vegetables* are included in each sack supper along with a meat/cheese sandwich, 100% fruit juice box, granola bar, and healthy snack such as trail mix
Volunteers serve from ages 5 - 95 and number over 3,000. On average, 100 volunteers work at KFB every day, six days a week
In 2008, 16.7 million children lived in poverty (Feeding America)
A study done from 2006-2008 found that 12% of Michigan households are food insecure (FRAC) and 458,303 kids live in poverty.
In Kent County, 29,483 kids (18 and under) are at or below the poverty level (US Census 2006-2008 American Community Survey)
KFB does not receive any government funding; all funding is received from caring individuals, families, churches, businesses, civic groups, corporations and foundations
KFB serves children who attend schools or summer park programs where 80% or above of students live at or below the poverty level
KFB is able to provide a child with a sack supper weekdays throughout the school year and during the summer for a total cost per child of $190 per year, an additional $80 per year is necessary to include fresh fruits and vegetables
Each child is provided with a snack sack of extra food in each Friday sack supper to help provide for weekend nutrition needs
Grand Rapids metropolitan area has a food hardship rate of 19.4%, ranking it 34th among the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the US. That's higher that Detroit (18.8%) and Chicago (17.4%). Food Research and Action Center 2008-2009.
From 2000 to 2008, Grand Rapids had the largest spike in poverty among any US city at 8.9%. (Brookings Institute)
*Fruit could be any one of the following: banana, apple, berries, peaches, pears. Vegetable could be any one of the following: carrots, snap peas, grape tomatoes.