Feeding Good
The Challenge: More than 11 million children in the United States live in “food insecure” homes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). That means those families don’t have enough food for every family member to lead a healthy life. This doesn’t always mean that there is nothing to eat. But it can mean that children get smaller portions than they need, or parents don’t have the resources to afford nutritious foods. Many of these families rely on the free or reduced-price meals their children receive through school or community organizations. However, with schools and after-school programs across the country closed for the foreseeable future and nearly 30 million people unemployed, an essential element of the COVID-19 response will be bridging the food access gap for low-income families.
What Can Be Done? Several states and schools have begun developing their own solutions, adapting traditional service models to reduce disease transmission. Some districts have announced “Grab-n-Go” meal sites throughout their districts that can provide up to 5 days of meals at once. Other districts are arranging meal deliveries to school bus stops or homes. The USDA has also initiated a public–private partnership in rural areas to deliver shelf-stable food packages that include food that families can prepare. It’s clear that there are many approaches to tackling this issue, but the most successful of these programs will distribute food effectively and equitably while preventing disease transmission and ensuring cost-effectiveness and sustainability for the duration of school closures.
How the Feeding Good Project is meeting the challenge: Multiplier and Revolution Foods have partnered to launch the Feeding Good Project. Feeding Good directly funds healthy and delicious meals for low-income and food-insecure households across the country. Revolution Foods’ quick response to the COVID-19 crisis ensures that communities who were already struggling with food insecurity prior to the pandemic have access to meals with the highest nutrition, ingredient and culinary standards. In coordination with school partners, community organizations and other world-class nonprofits, Feeding Good ensures families are able to remain well-nourished during these difficult times.
