Kids Like Maya’s

The holiday season is approaching—a time for gratitude, togetherness, and bellies full of food, for most of us. As you know, not everyone in our community will feel full this season. Over 300,000 Minnesota children face empty kitchen cupboards. You can help change that.

Maya’s story

* Name changed to protect privacy

We recently heard from Maya*, whose story reflects the vital work we do at Every Meal and the profound impact your support can have on families in our community.

Maya is a mother of three who recently found herself starting over after a domestic violence situation landed her and her children in a shelter. With limited resources and a tight budget, Maya had to figure out how to move forward while keeping her kids safe and happy.

As a newly single mom, Maya struggled to make ends meet and pay for everyday necessities like clothing and housing on her own. This also made it harder to put enough food on the table for her growing and active kids. Like many families in tight financial situations, the struggle intensifies on the weekends when school breakfast and lunch are unavailable. This weekend food gap leaves children vulnerable to hunger and the many challenges that come with it.

As the social worker at Maya’s kids’ school explains, kids who are hungry on weekends are more likely to have “attendance issues (either not coming at all, coming in tardy, or many absences due to illness), less engagement at school, and negative impact on academic success like grades.”

You can change the situation

With absolutely no exaggeration – this is where you change this situation. Your donation to Every Meal provides weekend food for kids like Maya’s. Our weekend food bags are placed directly into kids’ backpacks at school at the end of the school week. Your donation today means we can continue to feed Maya’s kids and the many others who face struggles. AND thanks to Thrivent, your donation today will be matched, doubling your impact.

Our Weekend Meal Program was created and exists for the sole purpose of ensuring children like Maya’s have access to nourishing food at home on weekends. Each food bag is filled with food that is regularly taste-tested with kids’ preferences in mind. We also offer five food bag options so that the food is relevant to our recipients. Together, we are alleviating hunger, providing peace of mind, and ensuring children have the nutrition they need to thrive.

Double your impact this holiday season

With your help, we can continue to support families in need, like Maya’s. Every donation amount makes a significant difference, and right now, your donation will go twice as far, thanks to $100,000 in matching funds from Thrivent. For instance:

• Just $6 provides a weekend food bag for one child two children
• $60 provides a weekend food bag for 10 children 20 children
• $120 provides a weekend food bag for 20 children 40 children

Maya’s children are not just statistics; they are bright, curious kids who deserve the same opportunities as their peers. At Every Meal, we are committed to lifting the burden of food insecurity so that children can focus on learning, playing, and thriving.

Your support is crucial. Every dollar you contribute directly impacts the lives of families and feeds kids in our community. And until December 31, your donation will go twice as far. Please join us on this critical mission.