In 1989, Kids Cafe started as a response to two young brothers in Georgia breaking into a community center’s kitchen...looking for food.
In 1993, America’s Second Harvest officially launched a national program called Kids Cafe. Now there are over 400 programs in more than 80 U.S. cities.
In 1996, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina opened its first Kids Cafe in the Metrolina area. Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina currently has 33 Kids Cafes in operation in 9 counties through our partner agencies.
What We Do
Children are provided meals, supplemental snacks, and nutritional education on-site weekly, year round in a safe and accessible environment. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina Kids Cafe programs provide hundreds of thousands of nutritional meals and snacks to children that might otherwise go hungry.
Kid's Cafe Helps
Children and Families
Families are able to make their household food budget stretch further because Kids Cafe helps to supplement some meals.
Communities
Involve additional community resources and partners to enrich lives of the Kids Cafe participants. Sponsors include Bloom, The Carolina Panthers, Food Lion, Harris Teeter and WJZY.
Youth Organizations and Programs
Besides financial and food product support, Kids Cafe provides technical support through food solicitation, program development, mentoring relationships, and educational workshops.
Child Hunger Facts
In Mecklenburg County alone, as many as one in every six children are at risk for going to bed hungry every night.
How you can Help
Become a volunteer at one of our Kids Cafes. Prepare a meal, assist with homework, or become mentor.Check our listing for contacts.
Sponsor a child. Your donation of $20.00 to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina will provide food for one child for four days a week for four months!
Become a program sponsor. Your organization’s contribution to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina will fully fund a Kids Cafe for one year with food from the Food Bank and partial staff salary support and money for supplies.
How to Become a Kid's Cafe?
Any not-for-profit community or faith-based organization that is a partner agency of Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina may apply to become a Kids Cafe. There are criteria that must be met including proper facilities and an established youth program.
Funding is granted on a yearly basis and is dependent upon availability of donations designated to the Food Bank for Kids Cafe.
Requests for information about the application process may be directed to David Brown, Kids Cafe Coordinator, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, 704-375-9639, ext. 23. or at dlbrown@secondharvest.org
As the largest hunger relief charity in the Metrolina area, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina works to end hunger. We do this by supplying a network of over 600 non-profit agencies and churches in 19 counties with food and essential grocery products.
Back to Programs
