Every Meal

EVERY MEAL'S MISSION IS TO FIGHT CHILD HUNGER THROUGH COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS.

IN THE FALL OF 2010, THE PRINCIPAL AT LAS ESTRELLAS ELEMENTARY (FORMERLY SHERIDAN) TOLD MILL CITY CHURCH, AND EVERY MEAL FOUNDER ROB WILLIAMS, HER STUDENTS DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD ON THE WEEKENDS AND ASKED IF THEY COULD HELP. IN RESPONSE, THEY PROVIDED MEAL BAGS EACH FRIDAY AND THE ORGANIZATION WAS BORN. SINCE THEN, THE ORGANIZATION HAS WORKED TIRELESSLY TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS TO FOOD ACCESS THAT SO MANY CHILDREN FACE. EVERY MEAL HAS PROVIDED OVER 9.5 MILLION MEALS TO THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE LIVING IN FOOD INSECURITY.EVERY MEAL (FORMERLY THE SHERIDAN STORY) WORKS TO FIGHT CHILD HUNGER IN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN BY FILLING THE GAPS THAT CHILDREN FACE DURING WEEKENDS, SUMMERS, AND EXTENDED BREAKS WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN SCHOOL TO ACCESS MEAL PROGRAMS. THROUGH A NETWORK OF OVER 730 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, EVERY MEAL PROVIDES THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WITH THE FOOD THEY NEED TO LEARN AND GROW.A DIFFERENTIATOR OF EVERY MEAL IS THE QUALITY OF FOOD PROVIDED. OVER 99% OF OUR FOOD IS PURCHASED FROM OVER 35 LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND GLOBAL VENDORS. FOOD ITEMS AND BRANDS ARE DETERMINED THROUGH GUIDANCE FROM AN ON-STAFF REGISTERED DIETICIAN WHO ANALYZES NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS AND TASTE TO ENSURE THAT THE FOOD IS BOTH NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS.INVESTING IN MORE WAREHOUSE SPACE AND DEMAND PLANNING TECHNOLOGY HAS ALLOWED EVERY MEAL TO PURCHASE A GREATER VARIETY OF HIGH-QUALITY FOOD WHILE LEVERAGING ECONOMIES OF SCALE TO REDUCE COSTS. THESE EFFORTS HAVE RESULTED IN A WIDER RANGE OF FOOD OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN INCLUDING REGIONALLY SPECIFIC BEANS, SPECIALIZED GRAINS AND FLOURS, AND FAVORABLE VEGETABLES AND FRUITS FOR VARIOUS CULTURAL COOKING NEEDS. THESE INVESTMENTS HAVE ALLOWED EVERY MEAL TO IMPROVE THE SELECTION OF FOODS PROVIDED TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, ENSURING THAT THE FOOD THEY RECEIVE IS NUTRITIOUS, DELICIOUS, AND CULTURALLY AND SITUATIONALLY RELEVANT.EVERY MEAL CONTINUED THE INNOVATIONS AND PROGRAM EXPRESSIONS INSTIGATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD. FOOD DISTRIBUTION METHODS WERE ADAPTED TO REFLECT THE VARIOUS LEARNING MODELS THAT SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTED, AND ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SITES SUCH AS THE YMCA, LIBRARIES, PARKS, WORSHIP CENTERS, AND FIRE STATIONS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE FOOD ACCESS FOR CHILDREN. EVERY MEAL INVESTED IN PROGRAM SUPPORT CAPACITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE RESOURCES COULD BE PROVIDED TO SCHOOLS, WHOSE NEEDS BECAME MORE COMPLEX AS LEARNING MODELS AND OPERATIONAL DEMANDS CHANGED RAPIDLY.OTHER INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS, LIKE THE GROW AND GIVE PROGRAM, ALLOWED EVERY MEAL TO DISTRIBUTE FRESH PRODUCE TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. PRODUCE GROWN IN EVERY MEAL GARDEN WAS COMBINED WITH PRODUCE DONATED BY INDIVIDUALS AND GROW AND GIVE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO BE DISTRIBUTED WEEKLY TO CHILDREN IN ROSEVILLE, MINNESOTA.