Search Nonprofits

Big Green was founded in 2011 by Kimbal Musk and Hugo Matheson. Kimbal and Hugo co-founded The Kitchen Restaurant Group together in 2004 and were supporting local school garden initiatives through their restaurants. They were inspired by the way school gardens can help kids increase their preference for nutritious foods, develop healthier responses to stress, and improve their academic performance. They wanted to find a way to achieve that same kind of local impact at scale, so that children all over the country could reap the benefits of a thriving school garden. Kimbal and Hugo founded Big Green, formerly The Kitchen Community, in order to create a replicable, scalable school garden solution. They built the first-ever Learning Garden in Denver, Colorado at Schmitt Elementary, where it still thrives today.

Perched atop the buried pre-classic Maya city of Chocola, the village of Chocola on the back slopes of the volcanoes that form Lake Atitlan, is poverty stricken yet poised to become a model of cultural celebration and self-sufficiency. What it needs most is leadership training and technical support to develop its potential for diversified agriculture, archeological-tourism, health care for its families and education for its children. In its simplest terms, the mission of Seeds for a Future is to help this impoverished community plan and achieve prosperity based on balanced development principles that protect cultural tradition, the natural environment and preserve the Mayan and post-colonial history of the town. Seeds for a Future traces its roots to the period from 2003 through 2006 when many Earthwatch Institute volunteers came to Chocola to work on the archaeological site, which was then being excavated under license from the Guatemalan government. The volunteers embraced being associated with an important archaeological endeavor and learned about the vast pre-Classic Maya city that may hold keys to the early development of Mayan language, system of time and other fundamental cultural practices. At the same time, many of us fell in love with the community, its families and children and the fabulous, healthy mountain environment. As a result, groups of volunteers organized to help a community struggling with terrible poverty and deprivation to find a way to prosperity without destroying their way of life or the delicate balance of their natural environment. A vision emerged among a core of volunteers, Guatemalan visionaries and local leaders in which Chocola is seen as lifting itself into a more healthy and prosperous community based on its historic farming skills, adding value to its coffee, vegetable and cacao producers and through community cooperative action. In the future, there is great promise for the development of Chocola as a tourist destination based on archaeo-tourism; conservation of the natural resources in which the community is embedded and conservation of one of the first and greatest coffee processing plants (beneficios) established during the 1890s. But we also discovered in the early years that before Chocola could begin to realize its potential, the people needed training in identifying their own vision for the future, learning to work together and acquiring the technical skills needed for success. Overcoming 500 years of economic and social servitude is not easily done, but real progress is being made and our program has been recognized as ground-breaking, by the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and others. Four operating principles guide the work we do: We provide information and technical assistance to the people of Chocola to help them evaluate new opportunities and to plan. We provide direct funding and other forms of support for community requests for assistance on specific projects. These requests must come through Chocola leadership and must demonstrate sustainability and a willingness and capability of the community to provide part of the needed resources. All programs must aim at achieving self-sufficiency. We will help with programs that governmental agencies believe may be of value, provided that they too meet the same test as is noted for the community above. All such requests must be consistent with our mission to help the people and do no harm to either the Maya archaeological site or to the 1890 Coffee Finca site. In all of our programs we try to ensure that the participants become more engaged in the social and civil fabric, that they gain self confidence in their ability to change their own future for the better, and that we provide knowledge and coaching for a sufficient period of time that their activities and new ideas become self-sustaining in the community.

Sisters Of The Road exists to build authentic relationships and alleviate the hunger of isolation in an atmosphere of nonviolence and gentle personalism that nurtures the whole individual, while seeking systemic solutions that reach the roots of homelessness and poverty to end them forever. We believe that all individuals are equally worthy, that no one has a monopoly on the truth, and that we have much to learn from one another. We consistently refuse to participate in or condone any act of violence, harm or humiliation, including sexism or racism. Our founding goals are to be a safe, public place for everyone, especially women and children, to offer nourishing meals at little cost or in exchange for labor, and to offer job training and employment experience to local residents. For thirty-five years, Sisters' has worked to fulfill these goals and to build a community based on nonviolence, dignity, and systemic change.

Since 2006, Gemma's Angels has distributed tens of thousands of pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables to a growing list of homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks in Dauphin and Lebanon Counties in Pennsylvania. We supplement--but do not replace--the work of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank which provides food to over 900 partner agencies in Central PA running from the northern to the southern border of the state. We want to change the way we feed the hungry. MISSION: Provide fresh fruits and vegetables to homeless shelters, soup kitchens and food banks in Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, and Inspire at-risk children and families to make healthier food choices, increasing their access to fresh, local food and teaching them to live more sustainably. Gemma’s Angels is a not-for-profit organization recognized by the IRS under its tax exempt 501(c)3 regulations.

Mission: San Diego Hunger Coalition leads coordinated action to end hunger in San Diego County. We do this through research, education and advocacy. Vision: Our vision is that everyone in San Diego County has enough food for an active, healthy life. Goals The San Diego Hunger Coalition leads coordinated action to: 1. Build a more effective and interconnected system of food assistance resources. 2. Enable low-income individuals and families to purchase more healthy food by increasing participation in CalFresh, a monthly supplement to a household’s food budget. 3. Ensure all children have year-round access to healthy food by expanding school meals and other federal child nutrition programs. 4. Advocate for legislative and administrative policies that reduce hunger and increase access to healthy food.

Feed The World's mission is to empower poor smallholder farm families to feed themselves and provide for the future through sustainable farming. Guiding Principles - Seeds of Dignity and Hope are planted in the hearts of our smallholder farm families as they work together to provide for themselves and build a better future. Transparency & Accountability means that we will do exactly what we promise to do in the communities we serve and that we will be open and honest with our donors in communicating how funds are being used. Lasting Self Reliance is achieved as families obtain sufficient knowledge and education, manage resources wisely, and prepare for the future so that they will continue to thrive after our support ends. Sustainable Farming is practiced by smallholder farm families as they plan, plant, and harvest food for themselves and their livestock, while building human capacity to recognize and enhance the efficient use of their natural resources. Nutrition & Income are the core benefits to smallholder farm families as they grow and produce foodstuffs that provide for a nutritionally balanced diet on an economically sustainable basis. Scientifically Proven Methodology guides the implementation of agricultural best practices with our smallholder farm families and on our demonstration farms. We also support further scientific research through partnerships with universities, governments, and other non-governmental organizations (NGO's). Mutual Respect is the goal of our in-country agronomists, nutritionists, and animal scientists as they interact with smallholder farm families, seeking to understand the "why" behind traditional practices, and always exploring new possibilities. Training & Education in sustainable farming, nutrition, food preparation, and hygiene are key to ensuring that lasting self reliance is achieved by smallholder farm families. Honoring Culture means that our programs work within the local cultural framework to empower and educate smallholder farm families without imposing an outside culture on them. Family Focus involves both women and men in all aspects of decision making, training, and education; and keeps children and parents united and working together on their land. Feeding the Spirit means that while Feed the World does not identify itself with one particular religion or belief system, we honor the spirituality of all human beings and serve all program participants irrespective of their beliefs or social station. Pay It Forward means that we expect our smallholder farm families to pass on their seeds, stock, and knowledge to other families in need once they have successfully provided for themselves.

Pack Away Hunger's mission is to eliminate hunger in Indiana and around the world through nutritious food, education and service. Nutritious Food. In the United States, our Nutri-Plenty Meals help stock the shelves of local food banks and pantries. In developing nations, our meals are used to offset chronic malnutrition in children, and to nourish communities suffering from hunger. Education. Each year, through community partnerships and meal packing events, we educate more than 8,000 people about the toll hunger takes on individuals and communities. Our hope is that this information will inspire people to advocate and care for the hungry in their own communities and around the world. Service. Meal packing events are a powerful and hands-on way for organizations and individuals to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. Appropriate for all ages and all abilities, our events allow diverse groups to serve together, build camaraderie and promote team building.

Too often grocery stores and restaurants find themselves throwing out food, when there is great need in nearby communities. MEANS Database modernizes food recovery in 48 states and the District of Columbia by connecting excess food to organizations and individuals who need it. Hunger lingers in the lives of the people it affects. In infants and toddlers, food insecurity is associated with failure to thrive, a devastating condition with consequences into adulthood (1). In early childhood, hunger is associated with diminished academic progress, more behavioral problems and unhealthy weight (2). By high school, it's linked with dropping out, and by early adulthood, with having children who also face hunger, the cycle starts over again (3). Food insecurity exists in every American demographic and geography, affecting every population tracked by the US Census. However, as it seems for every other social ill, the most rural, the most urban, and minorities in any location bear a disproportionate burden of the weight of hunger. While 12.7% of American families are food insecure, the rate for Black and Latino families are each about 20% (4). Jefferson County, Mississippi, is a study in these disparities: it has the highest percentage of black residents of any American county, and also holds the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of food insecurity in the United States, with nearly 38% of residents facing hunger (5). Meanwhile, while more than 42 million Americans rely on food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency food providers to feed their families, the United States grapples with an massive food waste problem. Forty percent of the American food supply ends up in landfills, with perfectly edible meals being thrown away at all stages of production (7). Food is the single largest contributor to landfill and incinerator mass in the United States, choking the nation's air while 1 in 8 Americans face food insecurity (8). Further complicating this feast and famine dynamic is the uncomfortable truth that even programs meant to address hunger frequently end up wasting food. The issue we are tackling with MEANS is huge: we're trying to prevent food waste and adequately address the problem of hunger. The USDA reports that 48.1 million Americans live in food-insecure households, while Feeding America says that 70 billion pounds of food are wasted in the US each year (8). This task may seem daunting, but we know that through the use of innovative technology like ours, we can help to change the future of food recovery. MEANS (Matching Excess And Need for Stability) is an online communications platform for emergency food providers and their donors. On a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone, agencies create an account with MEANS, registering their contact information, location, the kind(s) of foods they are searching for, and the distance they are willing or able to travel to pick up those goods. Donors post their excess goods on MEANS, and the system emails and/or texts organizations nearby that need those goods. Our tool substantially reduces the communications gap between emergency food providers and their donors, preventing "donation dumping" on both sides. MEANS was designed to handle both traditional food donations, from grocery stores or caterers, and donations between emergency food providers. There is no charge for any of our organization's services, for nonprofit agencies or retailers. Citations: 1) Kersten, Hans B. and Bennett, David (2012) "A Multidisciplinary Team Experience with Food Insecurity & Failure to Thrive," Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 6. 2) Jyoti, Diana F.; Frongillo, Edward A.; and Jones, Sonya J. (2005) "Food Insecurity Affects School Children's Academic Performance, Weight Gain, and Social Skills" The Journal of Nutrition vol. 135 no. 12 2831-2839. 3)"Changing the Picture of Education in America: Communities in Schools Spring 2014 Impact Report" (2014) 4) USDA (2015). "Food Security Status of U.S. Households in 2015" 5) Feeding America (2016). "Map the Meal Gap 2016" 7) Gunders, Dana (2012). "Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill" 8) Feeding America (ND), "Food Waste In America"

Weld Food Bank’s (WFB) mission is to “Lead and Engage Our Community in the Fight Against Hunger.” Under this mission, we “Lead” by raising awareness of hunger and its consequences, create understanding of the pervasiveness of hunger and promote advocacy with compassion, inclusion, and respect. We “Engage” by actively involving the community and working towards the common goal of food equity for all. And we “Fight Against Hunger” by placing ourselves directly where we see need, offering our services without discrimination. The purpose of our organization is to alleviate suffering from hunger in Weld County, CO by providing healthy foods to those unable to obtain adequate, nutritious food, and who are, or will otherwise, suffer from hunger. Annually, WFB assists 88,000 unique individuals through 8 direct service programs designed to feed hungry children, adults, and seniors. The goal of all WFB hunger relief programs is to ensure that no person in Weld goes hungry and that every individual has access to healthy, affordable foods.

Tarrant Area Food Bank opened in September 1982 with the purpose of helping local human services agencies feed poor Fort Worth area residents. That fall the Food Bank distributed donated food to 48 charities. Today, as a regional clearinghouse for donated food and household products, we serve a network of almost 300 hunger-relief agencies in 13 counties. We believe that children and adults receiving food aid deserve a nutritious mix of foods; thus we strive to provide foods ranging from fresh produce and dairy products through frozen meats to packaged pasta and bottled juices. With the mission to eliminate hunger, we seek to educate recipients about nutrition so they may reap the greatest possible benefit from the donated food. We also work to reach all pockets of hunger in our area by serving a large range of charities including pantries, soup kitchens, Kids Cafes, senior centers, low-income daycare centers, emergency shelters, disaster-relief organizations and other social service centers.

Mandarin Food Bank is a mission of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Jacksonville, FL. Our mission is to provide emergency food and clothing to those in need in the Mandarin Community. We are a ministry run entirely by volunteers. Anyone residing in the Mandarin Community, regardless of religious affiliation, is eligible to be served. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, we provide a box of food for a complete holiday meal, serving about 400 families at each event. Our migrant worker project includes duffle bags filled with personal items such as towels, wash cloths, hats, work gloves, shampoo deodorant, toothpaste, etc., all filled by food bank volunteers. Our volunteers also prepare the hot meal and transport it to different migrant camps. We do this twice a year. Other special projects at the food bank include a Life Skills program that provides formal instruction on tackling life experiences like: making and living on a budget, seeking a job, setting priorities, etc. Our birthday project that provides small birthday gifts for children of clients.

Serve the People's Mission Statement: ""To provide for the physical, mental, emotional and mentoring needs of the poor, children, sick, needy, uneducated, oppressed and lost people. To serve people regardless of religion, ethnicity, race, or gender with love, compassion, and generosity."" Orange County, home to some of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the nation, is one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S. Despite its affluent reputation, Orange County has significant pockets of poverty where low-income households struggle to afford many basic needs, including nutrition and medical coverage. Serve the People (STP) provides food, clothing, medical care, and legal assistance, giving a hand up, and not just a hand-out. Since its founding in 2008, STP has centered its programs on the needs of the greater Santa Ana community, providing a trusted resource for people who have nowhere else to go for food and healthcare. STP's services allow low-income households to temporarily allocate their precious resources towards other household expenses - like housing and transportation