Child Nutrition Programs

The Food Bank for Larimer County expanded its Child Nutrition programs in 2010. From full meals to nutritious snacks for ages 3-18 years of age, we are working diligently to serve children at all spectrums of hunger.

Our primary Child Nutrition program is Kids Cafe.

The mission of the Food Bank’s Kids Cafe is to provide meals to disadvantaged children in an environment that is safe, accessible, and convenient. This year-round program provides children, ages 3-18, who are at risk of hunger, access to a nutritious meal and health education after school and during the summer months. The Food Bank provides a hot evening meal at seven community sites in Larimer County, and during the summer, breakfast and a hot lunch at eight community sites. 

Our meals are almost entirely scratch cooked, with an emphasis on fresh and healthy ingredients. All meals are created in our commercial kitchen in Fort Collins and delivered daily. During 2011, we served 70,174 meals in Larimer County to low-income children at eight sites.

Kids Cafe serves approximately 400 meals and 1,000 snacks a day to children in Larimer County during the school year, which grows to 750 meals a day during the summer months.  All Kids Cafe meals are free to children and cost $2 for parents.

KIDS CAFE MENU

Kids Cafe February Menu

KIDS CAFE SCHOOL-YEAR SITES
Fort Collins & Wellington
Loveland

Other Child Nutrition programs include:

Kids Link:
Sponsoring over 70 school programs to shop at the Food Bank, Kids Link provides schools the opportunity to access snacks for free. The Food Bank underwrites the shared maintenance fee for schools. All produce is free to schools. Our snack program has two components:

• 72 schools in Larimer County have access to donated snack items through our program.  The Food Bank underwrites this program and provided over 29,833 lbs. of food to children during last fiscal year (2011).  Teachers, outreach workers, and principals contact us with concerns about hunger in school. They have shared with us that being able to provide supplemental snacks through the day makes a big difference in the way the children feel, think, and learn.
• FBLC has been participating in the CACFP snack program since the fall of 2010.  During the fiscal year ending 2011, we distributed 26,283 snacks to at risk children in schools over 50% free and reduced, and through our Kids Cafe sites.  We are currently serving snacks at nine sites.  Our snack menu is designed by our Child Nutrition Coordinator/Registered Dietician.  All snacks meet or exceed USDA guidelines for nutrition and focus on fresh produce, whole grains, and low-fat dairy.

Backpack:
Launched by Feeding America in 1995, Backpack is a program administered through FBLC that provides children in need with a backpack filled with non-perishable food for the weekend and/or school breaks. Poudre School District's Head Start family mentors refer families in need of weekend food support, and the FBLC delivers this support via a Backpack weekly. Backpacks are also distributed through Kids Cafe sites during the summer. Program Details:

• FBLC has been partnering with McKinney since 2008, providing food for free to their backpack program.  They are now serving over 800 backpacks per week to at risk children in Poudre School District.
• The Loveland Rotary, in partnership with House of Neighborly Services, accesses food at the Food Bank for a backpack program serving at risk children Thompson School District. They are serving 150 backpacks per week in Loveland and Berthoud.
• FBLC distributes weekend bags to children during the summer (when McKinney and Loveland Rotary/HNS are not in session) and to children under the age of 5 attending PSD's Head Start program.
• In 2011, 15,427 backpacks were distributed in Larimer County.  Teachers continue to report that receiving this bag of supplemental food is a huge comfort and security to many children who may not have food at home during the weekend.  Each bag consists of at least one main meal per day, breakfast items, peanut butter, milk, and snacks to get the children through the weekend. Items are easy to open, heat, and consume, even for a small child. 

To find out more information about any of our Child Nutrition programs, please contact Kristin Bieri, Program Director, at 970-372-8323 or read the Childhood Hunger Programs brochure.