Strategic Initiatives
make a donation3Hunger
This strategic initiative provides nutritious food to children and their families who struggle with food insecurity—the fear of not knowing where their next meal will come from.
Hunger hurts everyone, but it is especially devastating for children because it deprives them of more than just food. On empty stomachs, kids do not have the energy to focus, engage, learn and grow. Good nutrition is important for establishing a good foundation that has long-term implications for a child’s future physical and mental health, academic achievement and economic productivity.
Since inception in 2011, over 41,000,000 meals have been distributed to children and families in need leading to a 19% decrease in the number of food insecure children in Collier County between 2017 and 2022.
NCEF's Contribution to the Solution
Children’s Hunger
The goal of the children’s Hunger Initiative is to provide nutritious food to children and their families who struggle with food insecurity.
In partnership with produce distributors and other nonprofits, Brighter Bites delivers fresh food and nutritional education to children and families.
Feeding Dreams aims to combat childhood hunger through providing elementary school-aged children with nutritious Power Pack meals, bridging the weekend hunger gap and ensuring children not only have their basic nutritional needs met but also have the energy and focus to succeed in school.
Harry Chapin Food Bank offers four food distribution programs including Harry’s Helpings that provides supplemental food kids at early education centers, Fulfill Mobile Pantry Program delivering directly to areas in need, Partner Agency Program, providing partner agencies with food inventory to distribute and the In-School Pantry Program that offers food distribution at carefully selected schools.
In addition to expanding food access through 14 mobile food pantries, Meals of Hope’s packing program has been integrated into Collier County’s Public School System allowing students to participate in food packing days that are donated to Harry Chapin Food Bank for distribution.
Midwest Food Bank serves non-profit organizations by offering food for pickup that can then be distributed to their communities along with a Disaster Relief team who are on standby to distribute food donations.
Our Daily Bread Food Pantry’s goal is to wipe out hunger in Marco Island and Naples through providing food assistance programs that include a stagnant food pantry and mobile pantries
The Threat
Children facing food insecurity – the fear of not knowing where their next meal will come from – lack the energy to focus in class, engage with their peers and grow into healthy adults. The impacts of hunger on a child’s physical and mental health are significant, affecting their behavior, academic achievement and wellbeing. For children living in poverty, often the only reliable food many children receive is through school meal programs.
The Need
According to Collier County Public Schools in 2022, 65% of school children receive free or reduced-priced meals. In Collier County, all children are eligible for a free breakfast and for those who are eligible for free or reduced-cost lunch at school, these two meals represent their entire diet.
Strategic Impact
NCEF’s innovative approach to food access enables deliveries to remote and vulernable sections of Collier County, school-based food pantries and increasing access of fresh produce and nutritional education.
In partnership with produce distributors and other nonprofits, Brighter Bites delivers fresh food and nutritional education to children and families.
Feeding Dreams aims to combat childhood hunger through providing elementary school-aged children with nutritious Power Pack meals, bridging the weekend hunger gap and ensuring children not only have their basic nutritional needs met but also have the energy and focus to succeed in school.
Harry Chapin Food Bank offers four food distribution programs including Harry’s Helpings that provides supplemental food kids at early education centers, Fulfill Mobile Pantry Program delivering directly to areas in need, Partner Agency Program, providing partner agencies with food inventory to distribute and the In-School Pantry Program that offers food distribution at carefully selected schools.
In addition to expanding food access through 14 mobile food pantries, Meals of Hope’s packing program has been integrated into Collier County’s Public School System allowing students to participate in food packing days that are donated to Harry Chapin Food Bank for distribution.
Midwest Food Bank serves non-profit organizations by offering food for pickup that can then be distributed to their communities along with a Disaster Relief team who are on standby to distribute food donations.
Our Daily Bread Food Pantry’s goal is to wipe out hunger in Marco Island and Naples through providing food assistance programs that include a stagnant food pantry and mobile pantries
Through mobile food distribution, school-based food pantries, providing fresh produce and nutritional education the Hunger Initiative partners have collaborated to expand the number of people served in Collier County, contributing to inter-agency coordination and ensuring no duplication of services.
We are proud to collaborate with esteemed organizations that exemplify the highest efficacy standards.
Our Blueprint Partners, including Brighter Bites, Feeding Dreams, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Meals of Hope, Midwest Food Bank and Our Daily Bread Food Pantry collaborate to help alleviate food insecurity by providing nutritious food to children and families in need within Collier County.
Help Move Our Mission Forward
We encourage you to take action and support ending childhood food insecurity. Start by spreading awareness of the urgency of this issue. Volunteer your time with one of our partners who always have a wide variety of opportunities.
As the need in our community continues to grow, your giving strengthens our ability to achieve our mission. Thank you for support!
